GTA 6 at 100 euros: players mainly pre-order the most expensive edition

The question posed by CNBC was actually broader: do large pre-orders indicate sustainable sales, or just a peak of enthusiasm that fades after the release?

Zelnick did not give a figure. None. Take-Two has been refusing for weeks to communicate the total number of pre-orders — the official formula is that we do not parade before the competition. But he let slip this detail on the distribution between editions, and that's where it becomes interesting.

"We are moving more towards the high-end edition. This could reflect the fact that it is the most passionate consumers who pre-order." - Strauss Zelnick, CNBC, August 10, 2026

The nuance he adds is important, and honestly it is legitimate. The first to pre-order a game twelve weeks before its release are the hardcore fans. Those who watched the three trailers image by image. Statistically, they buy more expensive than the average.

Remains that Take-Two cashes 20 euros more per pre-order on a good portion of its bookings. On the scale of GTA, you multiply that by several million.

Unlike many deluxe editions that sell you three skins and a PS5 theme, this one contains playable content. This is the point that makes the comparison less obvious than it seems.

• Vehicles — Electric Fang, Grotti Cheetah, Vapid Buggy, Vapid Ganado, Stock 305, the Wyman Car Collection, and the vehicles from the Safehouse
• Boat — the Shark
• Weapons — the Hawk & Little Morgan revolvers and several exclusive variants
• Shops and properties — Sara's Salon, Rideout Customs, One-Eyed Willie, PTT Store
• Outfits — the Vice City Style and Goodtime Gear packs
• Bonus — the Vintage Vice City Pack and one month of GTA+ according to conditions

These shops are not decorative: they unlock as Jason and Lucia's campaign progresses, with two dedicated missions. In other words, you pay for game content, not just for a hat.

Is it worth 20 euros? If you plan to launch GTA Online and do business from the first week, probably. If you just want to finish the story once and move on, the standard is more than enough.

Just a reminder to put things in context. In 2013, GTA 5 was released at 59.99 euros. In 2023, the standard for a AAA had risen to 69.99 euros. Nintendo crossed the 79.99 euro mark with Mario Kart World on Switch 2. And now, GTA 6 is releasing an edition at 99.99 euros and selling it better than its initial version.

It is not an increase of 20 euros. It is a life-size test that the whole industry is watching. If Rockstar proves that the edition can be sold for 100 bucks in volume, you can bet that Ubisoft, EA, and Sony will think very hard about their releases in 2027.

And the mechanism is vicious, because it does not involve a frontal increase in the base price. No one announces "the game now costs 100 euros". We keep a standard at 79.99 for the showcase, and we put the desirable content in the edition above. The displayed price remains acceptable, the average basket still rises.

It's exactly the same logic as car manufacturers with finishes. Except that here, the content removed from the base version was already developed.

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Zelnick was also questioned about post-launch promotions. His answer can be summed up in one sentence: Rockstar will apply the same method as for GTA 5, that is to say, keep the launch price as long as possible on the channels it controls.

"We have maintained the price of GTA V for a very long time, much longer than for the usual release of an entertainment product." — Strauss Zelnick

Concrete translation: don't expect a discount on the PlayStation Store or the Microsoft Store for a while. GTA 5 stayed at full price for years before ending up on sale for 15 euros — and in the meantime, it sold over 200 million copies.

The only price drops will come from retailers, who will cut their own margins. On a game that is almost entirely dematerialized, it's safe to say that the margin for maneuver is thin. There are indeed regional tricks on the PS Store to get the Ultimate upgrade cheaper, but it's still makeshift.

Nothing. No PC version planned at launch, as with GTA 5 in 2013 (arriving on PC eighteen months after consoles) and RDR2 in 2018 (one year of waiting).

If Rockstar follows its usual pattern, the PC version will arrive at the end of 2027 or the beginning of 2028. Probably with the same price, or even higher if inflated editions become the norm by then. The only advantage: you will have time to build the necessary setup — and given the current state of GPU and DDR5 prices, this delay is not necessarily bad news.

In the meantime, PC gamers will mainly watch streams for a year. Again.

We're not going to preach to you about how you spend your money. GTA 6 is probably the game of the decade, and a 20 euro difference on a title you're going to play for 200 hours, that makes sense.

What bothers us is the signal. Each Ultimate pre-order is a vote to tell the industry that 100 euros is a breeze. And this information, Take-Two has just publicly given it to all its competitors during an investor call relayed by CNBC. This is not a communication coincidence.

If you want the game: you are not obliged to pre-order now. The game is dematerialized, there will be no out of stock. Waiting for the tests on November 19 costs you nothing and guarantees you not to pay 100 euros for a game whose gameplay you still don't know.

In short: the standard at 79.99 euros covers the complete experience. The Ultimate is comfort for GTA Online. Choose based on that, not based on FOMO.

The standard at 79.99 euros contains the full game and Jason and Lucia's campaign. The Ultimate at 99.99 euros adds seven vehicles, a boat, exclusive weapons, four businesses with two dedicated missions, outfits, the Vintage Vice City Pack, and one month of GTA+.

If you plan to play a lot of GTA Online, businesses and vehicles save you time at the start. For a simple solo game of the story, the standard is enough.

Not on official stores for a long time. Zelnick confirmed that Rockstar would hold the launch price, as with GTA 5. The only drops will come from third-party retailers cutting their margins.

Not at the launch on November 19, 2026. Rockstar has not announced any PC date. Historically, the gap has been eighteen months for GTA 5 and one year for Red Dead Redemption 2.

Take-Two refuses to disclose the figure. Zelnick only indicated that the distribution leaned towards the Ultimate edition, without giving a total volume.

There is no rush. The game is dematerialized, there is no risk of shortage. The only pre-order bonus is the Vintage Vice City Pack, already included in the Ultimate.