GTA VI preorders reportedly hit 39 million copies and $3 billion in one day

GTA VI preorders opened on June 25, and within 24 hours an estimated 39 million copies had been reserved — generating roughly $3 billion in revenue before the game has shipped a single unit. That figure, reported by APP., has not been confirmed by Rockstar or publisher Take-Two, so treat it as a strong signal rather than a certified number. If accurate, it would be the fastest $3 billion ever generated by any entertainment product — film, TV, or music included.

The scale

For context, GTA V earned $1 billion on its first day of sales back in 2013. GTA VI appears to have beaten that on preorders alone, and Rockstar has done it without a traditional marketing campaign — just two trailers released more than a year ago and a batch of screenshots. Analysts who once projected the game would reach $1 billion across its entire preorder window are now looking well off the mark, even accounting for the unverified nature of the APP. data.

Pricing is set at $79.99 for the Standard Edition and $99.99 for the Ultimate Edition in the US (£69.99 and £89.99 in the UK, €79.99 and €99.99 in Europe). A poll by Insider Gaming suggests around 80% of buyers are opting for the pricier Ultimate Edition, which includes in-game bonuses — a figure that, if accurate, pushes the revenue total even higher.

The friction

Not everything about the launch is clean. The PlayStation UK FAQ describes GTA VI as "a single-player experience," with no online multiplayer confirmed at launch — a notable gap for a franchise where GTA Online became a decade-long revenue engine. Take-Two's stock dropped 2.8% on the day preorders went live, reflecting investor unease over that missing mode.

Physical copies are also causing controversy. Retail boxes are expected to contain download codes rather than discs, prompting retailers like Video Games Plus and Loot Box Gaming to refuse to stock the product. Major chains including Amazon, Currys, and Game are still carrying preorders in the UK, but supply warnings are already circulating given ongoing console hardware shortages.

What's next

The game releases November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only. A PC version has no confirmed date — industry expectations place it somewhere in late 2027 or early 2028, though Rockstar has said nothing officially. The $2 billion spent developing and marketing GTA VI was already the largest budget in gaming history; the preorder figures, verified or not, suggest the payback window will be very short.