Grand Theft Auto VI is now 1 week from release. The Game Awards marked the countdown last night with a post reading "1 week until GTA6," which passed 11,500 likes overnight. Rockstar Games' open-world crime game launches Thursday, November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and the code-in-box versions for both consoles start arriving at retailers today. Check out the official post down below:
Grand Theft Auto VI costs $79.99, and the Ultimate Edition costs $99.99. It has already set pre-order records on both console storefronts. Sony says it is the most pre-ordered game in PlayStation Store history, and Xbox calls it "the most pre-ordered title of all time on the Microsoft Store."
What Time Grand Theft Auto VI Launches
Sony has adopted a rolling midnight launch by country for the PS5 version. It starts at 12:00 AM NZDT on November 19 in New Zealand and moves across the globe as each country reaches midnight. In the US, that means PS5 players can start at midnight local time on November 19.
On Xbox, Grand Theft Auto VI is also playable through Xbox Cloud Gaming on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S from 1 AM ET on November 19, which is 11 PM MST on Wednesday, November 18. Cloud-streamed sessions use Xbox Series S graphics settings. Since November 11, players in supported markets have been able to buy cloud playtime without a Game Pass subscription, though the game itself has to be purchased separately.
Pre-Loading And Storage
Pre-loading opened on November 10. On PS5 it began at midnight local time in each region, while Xbox opened it worldwide at 12 AM GMT, which was 5 PM MST on November 9. Rockstar's Newswire says the pre-load needs up to 212 GB depending on the console. Players who bought the code-in-box version can redeem the code and start pre-loading as soon as they have it.
Rockstar says the game was built from the ground up for current consoles and targets 30 frames per second on both platforms. On PS5 Pro, it adds PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution and ray-traced shadows. There is still no PC version announced, and the game will not run on PlayStation 4.
Launch Week In Vice City
Rockstar and its partners have events lined up across the week:
- Wednesday, November 18 at 5 PM MST: "A Night in Vice City," when the Miami Heat host the Milwaukee Bucks at Kaseya Center on a Vice City court, airing on the NBA on ESPN
- Thursday, November 19: Grand Theft Auto VI launches, and Rockstar adds a free printable cover art poster and map of Leonida to the official site
- Shortly after launch: a double-sided physical version of the poster at the Rockstar Store for $0.99, or free with any Rockstar Store purchase
- Saturday, November 21: Grand Theft Auto VI: The Festival at Mana Wynwood in Miami, with tickets limited to lottery winners
The Heat's plans, including Burger Shot and Cluckin' Bell stands inside the arena and a Nike x Cactus Jack "Vice City" uniform, are covered in GTA VI: The Miami Heat Become Vice City For A Night On The Eve Of Launch.
Launch Bonuses
All Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders and purchases made before November 20 include the Vintage Vice City Pack. It adds the '55 Vapid Stanier sedan with the Shore Court garage near Ocean Beach, a vintage pastel linen suit for Jason, a red sequin mini dress for Lucia, and a weapon pattern based on Tommy Vercetti's palm tree shirt. Digital pre-orders also come with 1 free month of GTA+, which can be claimed until March 31, 2027.
The Ultimate Edition adds the '95 Grotti Cheetah, a Shitzu Squalo boat, the '67 Vapid Dominator Buggy with the Paradise Garage in Watson Bay, the Hawk and Little Morgan revolvers for Jason and Lucia, and access to shops that only open for Ultimate Edition owners, including Rideout Customs and One-Eyed Willie's.
What Grand Theft Auto VI Is About
Grand Theft Auto VI is set in the state of Leonida, home to Vice City. Rockstar's description reads: "Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida, forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive." Every earlier game in the series is laid out in Every Grand Theft Auto Game In Story And Release Order Before Grand Theft Auto VI Arrives.
Are you starting Grand Theft Auto VI at midnight on November 19, or waiting until the launch crowds settle?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.