Grand Theft Auto VI is already shaping up to be one of the biggest entertainment launches ever. Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has revealed that GTA 6 pre-orders have performed far beyond the company’s expectations, although the publisher is keeping the actual sales figures private.
According to Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, Zelnick said GTA 6 pre-orders have “vastly” beaten Take-Two’s internal forecasts. The CEO described the early numbers as “exceptional,” adding another sign of just how enormous demand for Rockstar Games’ next blockbuster has become.
In brief:
- GTA 6 pre-orders have vastly exceeded Take-Two’s internal forecasts
- Take-Two has not revealed the exact number of pre-orders
- CEO Strauss Zelnick called demand “unprecedented” and “astonishing”
- GTA 6 launches on November 19, 2026
Pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI officially opened on June 25, giving Take-Two its first real indication of how many players are willing to purchase the game months before launch.
GTA 6 Pre-Orders Are Already Breaking Expectations
The response appears to have been extraordinary. Zelnick told Bloomberg that pre-orders have vastly outperformed Take-Two’s internal projections. During a post-earnings call, the executive went even further, describing the level of pre-orders as “unprecedented and astonishing.”
However, Take-Two is not ready to disclose exactly how many copies have been pre-ordered. Zelnick explained that the company does not yet know how this early demand will translate into final sales, especially because pre-orders can still be canceled.
So, that uncertainty is also one reason Take-Two has kept its fiscal 2027 bookings forecast unchanged rather than immediately raising expectations based on GTA 6’s early performance.
The enormous demand should not come as much of a surprise. GTA V has sold more than 230 million copies since launching in 2013, making the franchise one of the biggest properties in gaming history.
GTA 6 is currently scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The standard edition is priced at $79.99, with an Ultimate Edition available for $99.99.
Also, their next huge extended gameplay reveal will be exclusively premiered on Netflix on August 27. According to Take-Two CEO, the reveal will be similar to a typical Netflix show.
With months still remaining before release, Take-Two’s comments suggest GTA 6 could be heading toward a historic opening.
