GTA 6 will feature Jason and Lucia as playable characters
The latest installment in Rockstar's renowned Grand Theft Auto franchise is poised to be the biggest game launch of the year.
Rockstar announced that GTA 6 will be available for pre-order starting at midnight local time on 25 June.
Industry analysts estimate that GTA 6 could become the most expensive game ever developed, with production costs potentially exceeding $1 billion (£866 million).
Below is a detailed overview of what is currently known and unknown about GTA 6.
When is GTA 6 coming out?
GTA 6 is scheduled for release on 19 November. The recent opening of pre-orders strongly supports this date.
However, the game has experienced two prior delays, initially set for autumn 2025 and then May 2026.
Upon announcing the second delay, Rockstar stated it required additional months to complete the game with the level of polish that fans expect and deserve.
Players who pre-order will be able to start pre-loading the game on their consoles from 12 November to ensure immediate access at launch.
How much will GTA 6 cost and what platforms will it be available on?
The sixth main series game will launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S.
There is currently no information regarding a PC release date or whether the game will be available on Nintendo Switch 2.
The standard edition will be priced at $79.99, while a premium edition, which includes additional vehicles and weapons, will cost $99.99.
Physical copies will not contain a disc but will include a code for a digital download inside the box.
Rockstar has not confirmed if an updated online mode will be available at launch. Given the success of GTA Online, it is expected that an online component will be introduced at some point.
The impact of potential future UK age verification legislation related to social media and gaming messaging on GTA 6's online features remains uncertain.
GTA 6 will cost $80, and the physical edition will not include a disc.
There is ongoing discussion about whether the £70 price point for blockbuster games remains justifiable amid the rise of cheaper alternatives.
What is GTA 6 about, where is it set, and who are its main characters?
GTA 6 will introduce its first-ever playable female protagonist in a 3D setting, Lucia, alongside her partner in life and crime, Jason, who is also a playable character.
Based on the two gameplay trailers released so far, the narrative follows the duo in a Bonnie and Clyde-style adventure through the darker aspects of America after an "easy score goes wrong."
As with previous GTA titles, the game is set in a fictional US state named Leonida, Rockstar's version of Florida.
Fans will be pleased to learn that Vice City, inspired by Miami, will return as the main city within the state.
Rockstar revealed GTA 6's cover art on 18 June, which includes references to the setting such as alligators and flamingos.
How long has Rockstar taken to make GTA 6?
GTA 6 has been in development for several years.
The previous franchise installment, GTA 5, was released in September 2013 and quickly became one of the best-selling games ever.
It is unclear if Rockstar has been working on GTA 6 throughout this entire period, as the company also released Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018.
Rockstar officially confirmed work on the sixth game in February 2022.
The rising development costs and the pressure to meet the series’ high expectations have contributed to the extended wait for the release.
Several months after the confirmation, footage and images were leaked following a cyberattack by teenage hackers targeting Rockstar.
The company has also faced internal challenges, including allegations of "union-busting" by former employees at Rockstar North, its Edinburgh headquarters, where developers have been working intensively to prepare GTA 6 for its November release.
Why is there so much excitement about it?
The GTA franchise is one of the largest and most profitable entertainment properties in history.
GTA 5 has sold nearly 230 million copies, ranking it among the best-selling games ever and generating billions in revenue for Rockstar.
The game’s sandbox style, allowing players to explore expansive open worlds with significant freedom, has been widely praised as a pinnacle of interactive entertainment, despite occasional controversy.
Freelance video games journalist Vic Hood said each entry in the series "continued to push technical and gameplay boundaries", with GTA Online helping to "pioneer the live service model as we know it".
She added that the games were also "extremely culturally relevant" too.
"Rockstar has always had its finger on the pulse of music, entertainment, societal, political, celebrity, and online culture trends, and they've never shied away from satirising these things in GTA games," she said.
Speculation about how GTA 6 can surpass the monumental success of its predecessor has generated intense anticipation, with even minor updates sparking significant excitement.
Combined, the two previously released gameplay trailers have amassed approximately 447 million views.
The birth pangs of the Grand Theft Auto franchise
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