Grand Theft Auto 6 could cost you $35 or $800, depending on what you own. Pre-orders open June 25, and getting a digital copy of the Standard Edition is the smartest buy.
Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders open June 25. The standard edition is expected to cost $70 to $80, though Rockstar Games has yet to confirm the exact price. However, the game is only part of what you need to pay. The total cost of playing GTA 6 when it finally comes out on November 19 could range from $70, if you already have a current-gen console and enough storage, to $800 or more if you need a new console, a storage upgrade, and a premium edition.
So, before you spend a cent, work out what you already have. GTA 6 runs on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S only. There's no PC at launch, and it might not come until 2028. If you are on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, you need to upgrade. Luckily, PlayStation Direct is currently running a PS4 trade-in program that gives you a $50 voucher toward a PS5 or PS5 Pro through June 30. GameStop also accepts PS4 trade-ins for store credit, typically $30 to $60 depending on model and condition, and is currently offering extra trade credit on newer console trade-ins, and selling privately on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or wherever else, should net you at least $80 or more, which is double what you'd get trading it in.
Once you've got that figured out, you'll need to budget for the edition you're buying.
Unfortunately, Rockstar hasn't confirmed editions or pricing yet, so we're going on a limb here and make an eduated guess.
Theoretical GTA 6 Edition Comparison
| Edition | Expected Price | What Is Likely Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard | ~$69.99-$79.99 | The base game, no bonuses | Most players; the smart default |
Special / Deluxe | ~$89.99-$99.99 | Base game plus digital bonuses (currency, exclusive vehicle/weapon, cosmetics) | Players who want a small head start in GTA 6 Online |
Premium / Ultimate | ~$109.99-$119.99 | All Deluxe bonuses plus larger currency and possible early access (unverified) | Players who value time over money |
Collector's | ~$149.99-$199.99+ | Digital bonuses plus physical items (art book, map, steel case, figurine) | Collectors and display enthusiasts |
PS5 Console Bundle | ~$549-$899 | A PS5 or PS5 Pro bundled with a digital copy | Players who need a console anyway |
The breakdown below is built from Zelnick's public comments, the Red Dead Redemption 2 edition structure, and community leaks.
If we're being honest, spending more for anything else than the Standard Edition isn't worth it. Every Deluxe bonus in Rockstar's history is an in-game item that you can earn later on. Any in-game currency they give away isn't much either, and potential cosmetics are nice to have, but you don't necessarily need them. The premium editions are not "better" in any way that affects the actual game. They are convenience and vanity, and there is no shame in skipping them.
It's not like Rockstar is giving away early access either. Do not buy up a tier solely to play a few days early until Rockstar confirms early access is real and how long it lasts.
As for the choice between digital and physical copies, it all depends on your preference. Digital gets you instant access. You pre-load it, and you play at midnight on November 19 with no store trip and no disc swapping. The downside is you cannot resell a digital copy, cannot trade it in, and cannot lend it to a friend. Once you buy it, that money is spent for good.
On the flip side, you can trade the disc in after you finish the story, typically for $25 to $40 in credit toward a major title within the first year, or sell it privately for more. You can lend it to friends. The catch is that you need a disc drive. The PS5 Digital and the base PS5 Pro do not have one, so factor in the $79.99 disc drive accessory if you go physical on those. You also still install the whole game from the disc, so the storage requirement is the same as digital.
Pro-tip: consider game-sharing. Both PlayStation and Xbox let two accounts on two consoles share one digital game. On PlayStation, it is the console sharing feature, and on Xbox, it is the Home Xbox setting. If you and a friend both want GTA 6 and you trust each other, you buy one digital copy and split the cost. It is legitimate, it uses features Sony and Microsoft built on purpose, and it halves your cost.
As much as Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick believes that GTA 6 is recession-proof and that every adult will buy it, not everyone has the spare money to afford it, especially at launch.
Tired of GTA rumor recycling in your search results?
Make GTA BOOM your preferred source so Google prioritizes verified GTA coverage in Search, Top Stories, and AI Overviews.
Speaking of launch, waiting until Black Friday on November 27, eight days after GTA 6 drops, isn't the wisest move.
GTA 6 is expected to bring the console industry out of its recent slump. There's really no incentive for Sony to sell the PS5 and PS5 Pro for less when people are more than willing to pay for it just to enjoy GTA 6. Not to mention, Rockstar's titles don't go on sale for weeks, if not months, after coming out. Grand Theft Auto V notoriously held its full price of $60 for nearly two years. Expect the next Grand Theft Auto to do the same.
At most, you're looking at a cost savings of $100 on hardware, at the expense of dodging a tidal wave of spoilers across every platform.
GTA 6 is the most expensive entertainment product launch in history for its creators. It does not have to be the most expensive purchase for the people playing it. The Standard Edition, bought digitally and game-shared with a friend, runs $35 to $40 per person. Trade-ins from games and hardware you are not using can cover most or all of the rest. The smartest GTA 6 budget is the one you build before June 25, not the one you panic into on launch day.
Be warned, this is not financial advice. This is information to help you plan your GTA 6 purchase. Spend only what you can. Don't let anyone, including the unbelievable levels of hype, make you stretch your budget.