A larger-than-expected share of Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders is going towards the $100 Ultimate edition, according to Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick. The game’s $80 Standard edition is attracting fewer pre-order buyers than its premium counterpart.
Zelnick told the media that overall pre-orders for the highly anticipated Rockstar Games title are performing ‘much better than expected’. He said that it might be a reflection of the fact that most avid consumers are the ones who are pre-ordering now.
Zelnick said players who place pre-orders at this stage are likely to be more committed fans. That group may have a stronger interest in the additional content offered with the Ultimate edition. The premium package includes exclusive vehicles, weapon designs, outfits, tattoos and hairstyles. It also adds five shops that players cannot access through the Standard edition.
Those locations include businesses linked to vehicles, clothing, tattoos and beauty services. The extra content had drawn criticism when details of the edition first emerged.
The strong response comes as Take-Two has raised its fiscal 2027 earnings forecast. The company has linked the updated outlook to the anticipation surrounding GTA 6, which is scheduled for release on November 19.
The publisher has also said its business should face limited disruption from Sony’s planned end to PlayStation disc manufacturing. Zelnick highlighted that Take-Two’s operations are already heavily focused on digital sales.
The next major GTA 6 promotional event is expected later this month. Netflix will stream an extended-look trailer six hours before it becomes available on YouTube.
Zelnick described the move as part of Rockstar’s effort to experiment with new ways of reaching audiences. The decision gives Netflix an unusual early role in the game’s marketing campaign.
The pre-order trend also offers an early indication of the spending power among GTA 6’s most eager customers. If that pattern continues, the premium edition could become an important part of the game’s initial sales performance.
Also Read: Take-Two CEO Defends GTA 6 Digital-Only Launch Without Game Disc