GTA 6 Preorders: Ultimate Edition Wins as Prices Pull in Millions
Players waiting for Grand Theft Auto VI aren’t treating the price gap between editions as a deal-breaker: most preorder buyers are choosing the higher-priced Ultimate Edition, and new estimates suggest the game is already sitting on a multi-million preorder base.
Ultimate Edition dominates early preorders
Sensor Tower data indicates that 89% of all preorders placed so far are for the Ultimate Edition priced at 100 dollars (listed as 429 zł in Poland). By comparison, the standard edition is priced at 80 dollars (or 349 zł).
The split is similar across major platforms:
- On Xbox, roughly 90% of buyers choose the more expensive edition.
- On PlayStation, the figure is about 88.5%.
This pattern aligns with comments from Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, who said preorder demand is noticeably skewed toward the pricier version. The magnitude of that shift reportedly surprised even analysts.
Why players pay extra
- Karl Kontus of Sensor Tower explained that special editions often perform best during preorder windows because the most devoted fans are both more likely to buy early and more willing to pay for extra content.
- Kontus called GTA VI’s preorder makeup “unprecedented,” noting that premium editions typically land around 10–20% of preorder share in general, while the current premium share here is far higher.
- He added that the premium share could gradually shrink as launch gets closer, as more casual buyers tend to switch to standard editions.
- Kontus specifically suggested that in the final week before release, preorder distribution could potentially move toward an even split between editions.
- He also cautioned that GTA VI is difficult to forecast because its overall interest level has no true like-for-like reference point.
Ultimate Edition’s value proposition (and a missed opportunity)
Kontus pointed to one main driver for the Ultimate Edition’s pull: the price difference isn’t large. With standard priced at 80 dollars, paying an additional 20 dollars for Ultimate may feel comparatively manageable.
He also argued that, unlike many other games where expensive editions justify themselves with comparatively minor bonuses, Ultimate is positioned as a more substantial package. The edition includes additional vehicles and weapons, plus access to special locations.
Kontus further noted that, given how strongly Ultimate is selling, he was “a bit surprised” Take-Two Interactive didn’t also create an even more expensive tier at around 150 dollars.
Preorder totals: 4.3 million now, with a wide range of outcomes
Sensor Tower also estimates the overall preorder count at approximately 4.3 million for GTA VI. The regional/platform breakdown is:
- 77% on PlayStation
- 23% on Xbox Series X and S
From current pace to launch expectations
If the current preorder velocity followed the typical sales curve seen for other games, Sensor Tower’s model suggests the title could potentially reach over 40 million preorders by launch. Kontus, however, views that outcome as unlikely.
His more realistic expectation is that interest may have been especially concentrated early, leading to roughly 25 million ordered copies before release.
- Kontus described 25 million preorders as the more plausible result.
- For comparison, he cited that Cyberpunk 2077 reached more than 8 million preorders before launch.
- Using the 25 million estimate, Kontus suggested it would translate to about 2 billion dollars in revenue before the game even debuts.
- He added that such an amount could potentially cover production costs and the majority of marketing spending.
Zelnick previously described the current preorder levels as “unprecedented and astonishing.” At the same time, he acknowledged that with interest at a scale not seen before, it remains difficult to predict how preorders will ultimately convert into post-launch sales.
