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GTA 6’s $100 Ultimade Edition Has More Pre-Orders Than the Standard Game
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has revealed that pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto 6's $100 Ultimate Edition are outpacing those for the $80 standard edition, in an interview with CNBC. This comes despite earlier criticism that the standard price was already high for the highly anticipated Rockstar title, suggesting strong willingness among early buyers to pay a premium ahead of the game's release.
Zelnick attributed the trend partly to the fact that pre-order customers tend to be the most dedicated fans, rather than necessarily reflecting how the wider public will buy the game. The Ultimate Edition's extra $20 buys exclusive cosmetics and a free month of GTA+, Rockstar's subscription service. Zelnick maintained that Take-Two wants pricing to feel fair, calling the $80 standard edition an "incredible bargain", and was cautious about predicting GTA 6 could match GTA 5's sales of over 200 million copies since 2013. GTA 6 launches on 19 November for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
In short
- GTA 6's $100 Ultimate Edition is outselling the $80 standard version in pre-orders
- Take-Two CEO says avid pre-order buyers may skew this trend
- GTA 6 releases 19 November on PS5 and Xbox Series X
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The distribution of pre-orders towards the Ultimate Edition reflects what the CEO notes—that early adopters are committed enthusiasts willing to pay premium prices for additional value. Both editions are clearly available to consumers making informed choices, and strong pre-orders across both tiers demonstrate market confidence in the game rather than evidence of unfair pricing. GTA 6's $80 base price remains competitive with other premium titles, and consumer willingness to spend more suggests faith in quality rather than pricing resentment.
The case against
The prevalence of Ultimate Edition pre-orders suggests the $80 standard price may subtly undermine satisfaction, nudging consumers towards premium spending within a franchise already expected to feature substantial cosmetic monetisation. This tiered approach establishes $100 as the effective entry point and sets a problematic precedent for industry pricing standards. For dedicated fans with limited purchasing power, this structure exploits franchise loyalty by making the base experience feel incomplete relative to the premium alternative.
Explained simply
Grand Theft Auto is a crime-themed video game series made by Rockstar Games and published by Take-Two Interactive. Its previous instalment, GTA 5, has sold more than 200 million copies since its release in 2013, making the next game one of the most anticipated releases in the industry.
Games are often sold in several editions, with higher-priced versions offering extra digital items or other benefits. GTA+, mentioned in connection with the premium edition, is Rockstar’s subscription service; early pre-orders come from people choosing to buy before a game is released, and may not represent the wider audience.
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