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The GTA 6 price is $79.99 for the Standard Edition and $99.99 for the Ultimate Edition, and the game unlocks on Nov. 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. If you planned to buy the boxed copy, know this first: there is no disc in the box, only a download code.
The short version
Grand Theft Auto VI arrives on Nov. 19. Which edition you buy, and whether you buy it digitally or in a box, changes what you get with it.
- Standard costs $79.99 and Ultimate costs $99.99, so Ultimate is $20, or 25%, more.
- The boxed copy holds a download code, not a disc, so you still download the whole game.
- Digital pre-orders get the Vintage Vice City Pack plus one free month of GTA+, which normally costs $7.99 a month.
- Boxed copies bought before Nov. 20 get the Vintage Vice City Pack but not the GTA+ month.
- Pre-loading opens at midnight local time on Nov. 12, a week before the game unlocks.
What changes for you: a code in a box behaves like a digital copy. You need free storage and a decent internet connection either way, and there is no disc to lend, trade in or resell later. The good news is that a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition or an Xbox Series S, neither of which has a disc drive, can play the boxed version, because the code unlocks a digital download. Best Buy’s Xbox listing names the Series S.
GTA 6 price: Standard or Ultimate?
Ultimate adds an extra collection of vehicles, weapons, clothing and other items, according to Rockstar’s editions page. It is digital only. There is no boxed Ultimate Edition.
Rockstar also says Standard owners can buy the Ultimate upgrade later from the PlayStation or Microsoft store. It has not announced that upgrade price yet. So there is no rush: start with Standard, play a few weeks, and decide whether the extras are worth it once you know how much you play.
Digital or code in box: what you get with each
| Digital pre-order | Code in box | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Standard) | $79.99 | $79.99 |
| Vintage Vice City Pack | Yes | Yes |
| One month of GTA+ | Yes | No |
| Ultimate Edition available | Yes, $99.99 | No, upgrade later |
| Can pre-load from Nov. 12 | Yes | Yes, once you redeem the code |
Prices and bonuses come from Take-Two’s pre-order announcement. The GTA+ price is the $7.99 a month listed on Rockstar’s store. The Vintage Vice City Pack applies to purchases made before Nov. 20, and the GTA+ month to digital pre-orders only.
Why the boxed copy still makes sense for some people
If GTA 6 is a gift, a box is easier to wrap than an email. Best Buy also lists the boxed copy for pickup and delivery from Nov. 12, and you can redeem the code that day to start the download before launch.
Grand Theft Auto VI, code in box · paid links
The downside: there is no disc, so the boxed copy gives up the one thing boxes used to be good for, which is passing the game on when you finish it.
Skip if: you are buying for yourself and want the free GTA+ month. Only digital orders get it.
Buying GTA 6 for someone in another country?
Check which console they use before you buy. Rockstar says PlayStation codes only work on a PlayStation account set to the same country as the code. Xbox codes are not region-locked. So a PS5 code bought in one country may not work for a cousin whose account is set to another, while an Xbox code should.
Key GTA 6 dates
- Nov. 12, midnight local time: digital pre-loading opens, and boxed copies ship or go out for pickup.
- Nov. 19: the game unlocks on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
- Before Nov. 20: last chance to get the Vintage Vice City Pack. The GTA+ month is for digital pre-orders.
What we don’t know yet
- How big the download is. Rockstar has not said, so free up space early.
- When, or whether, a PC version comes. Only PS5 and Xbox Series X|S are listed.
- The price of the Ultimate upgrade for Standard owners.
What to do before Nov. 19
- Pick your edition. For most people, Standard is enough, since you can upgrade later.
- Choose digital if you want the GTA+ month, or the box if it is a gift.
- Clear storage on your console and check your connection before Nov. 12. Our Wi-Fi router guide helps if downloads crawl.
- The ESRB rates GTA 6 M for Mature 17+, for intense violence, strong sexual content, nudity, drugs and strong language. If a younger player in your house wants it, set up console limits first. Our guide to setting up kids’ devices safely walks through it.
- Need a second controller or a headset for launch night? See our gaming accessories picks.
We will add the download size here as soon as Rockstar or the console stores publish it.
