Grand Theft Auto VI presales start next week

Rockstar Games announced on Thursday that pre‑sales for Grand Theft Auto VI will begin on June 25.

The title, scheduled for release on November 19 after two postponements, is the latest installment in the blockbuster franchise and will arrive more than 13 years after Grand Theft Auto V, the second best‑selling video game of all time.

Rockstar, a subsidiary of New York‑based Take‑Two Interactive, revealed the date in a post on X, stating that pre‑orders will be available across digital platforms and at selected retailers.

The company also released the game’s official cover art but did not disclose the price.

Analysts estimate the base price to be $80, citing recent comments from Take‑Two CEO Strauss Zelnick and industry reports.

Some analysts and online rumours suggest the price could rise toward $100, potentially setting new industry standards.

Since its debut in 1997, the franchise has allowed players to assume the role of criminals engaging in various illicit activities across expansive cityscapes.

The new game was originally slated for a 2025 release. A trailer revealed that it would be set in a Miami‑like Vice City and would feature a playable female protagonist for the first time.

Critics have long accused Grand Theft Auto of glorifying violence and encouraging criminal behavior—claims that Take‑Two Interactive has rejected.

Gameplay includes drug dealing, fighting, robbery, vehicular rampage, assaulting sex workers, and visiting strip clubs, which has drawn criticism from activists.

When asked about the high expectations, Take‑Two CEO Strauss Zelnick described the situation as “very, very exciting and terrifying because the expectations are so high.”

The new game returns to Vice City and follows a criminal couple, Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos.

Its 2013 predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V, reached $1 billion in sales within three days—at the time the fastest any entertainment release had achieved that milestone.

It has since sold more than 230 million copies, ranking only behind Minecraft among the best‑selling games ever, and its online version has remained a steady revenue source for more than a decade.

The development of the game has faced challenges. A 2022 breach leaked unfinished footage online, one of the largest such incidents in gaming history. Additionally, Rockstar’s dismissal of dozens of employees last year drew accusations of union‑busting from labor organizers.

The post Grand Theft Auto VI presales to begin next week appeared first on Vanguard News.