Thirteen years after the release of Grand Theft Auto V, the moment millions of gamers around the world have been waiting for is finally approaching: Rockstar Games announced Thursday that preorders for Grand Theft Auto VI will open next week, on June 25.
The announcement comes alongside the first reveal of the game’s official cover art, a move fans see as a clear sign that the marketing machine for one of the most anticipated games in history is finally shifting into high gear ahead of its expected November 19 launch.
According to the company’s announcement, preorders will open through digital stores and select retailers worldwide. At the first stage, both preorders and the game itself will be available only for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. A PC version, if one arrives, has not yet been officially announced.
Preorders open, but the price is still secret
Despite the preorder launch, Rockstar has still not revealed the game’s official price. Industry observers believe the company may use the start of sales to announce the final price.
For months, rumors have circulated online about an unusually high price tag that could break past the standard 70 dollars now common for major AAA releases.
So far, Rockstar has maintained near-total silence on commercial details. That makes the opening of preorders one of the most significant steps yet on the road to the expected November launch, assuming, of course, that everything goes according to plan and the game is not delayed again.
Is the third trailer on the way?
Beyond the preorder news, there is another reason for excitement. Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company and the game’s publisher, recently said the major marketing campaign for GTA VI would begin during the summer.
Officially, summer begins on June 21, making the new preorder date fit neatly into the timeline he described.
Zelnick has also previously hinted that the third GTA VI trailer would be released only after preorders begin. That has led fans to speculate that Rockstar could finally release new gameplay footage on June 25 or in the days that follow.
The company has not confirmed that, but many fans see the preorder launch as the opening shot of what could become the largest advertising campaign in the history of the franchise.
A new look at Vice City
Alongside the announcement, fans spotted a new image on the official preorder page showing, for the first time, a wide view of Vice City, the legendary urban setting at the center of the new game.
The image shows the city skyline, port, skyscrapers and urban landscape in striking detail, offering another glimpse at the scale and atmosphere Rockstar is building for the next chapter of the franchise.
After years of leaks, rumors and endless anticipation, Rockstar appears to be slowly showing its hand. If the latest expectations prove correct, the coming days could bring not only the opening of preorders, but also a new trailer and perhaps even the answer to the question now gripping the gaming industry: how much will the biggest game of the decade really cost?