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Everyone expected Grand Theft Auto VI to sell well. A new analysis shows it is selling on a scale the industry hasn't tracked before. Analytics firm Sensor Tower compared U.S. digital pre-orders for the biggest games of the past six years, and GTA 6 is pacing 148% ahead of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the previous leader, over a comparable period before release. The gap is measured from 149 days to 45 days before launch. Diablo 4, Hogwarts Legacy and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 were also in the comparison, and all trail GTA 6 by a wide margin. The Ultimate Edition is a big part of the story. The Ultimate Edition alone is more than 100% ahead of Modern Warfare 2, and it sits not far behind the standard edition. Sensor Tower has said roughly 89% of pre-orders so far are for the $100 Ultimate Edition, while premium editions typically make up only 10 to 20% of a game's pre-order share. The running totals Sensor Tower's GTA 6 tracker now shows more than 6.45 million copies pre-ordered and over $630 million in revenue. A week earlier, the tracker stood at 6.08 million units and $594 million as of October 13, so the game is still adding roughly 370,000 pre-orders a week. Last week's pre-order spending also grew by about $4 million over the week before, so the pace is still climbing. PlayStation has the lead. PS5 accounts for roughly 74% of digital reservations, about 4.80 million copies and $468 million, while Xbox has 1.66 million copies and $162 million. Xbox has said it is very happy with the GTA 6 pre-order numbers. What these numbers don't show The comparison has limits. The data covers only digital pre-orders in the United States, so it leaves out physical pre-orders and sales outside the U.S. The U.S. is the biggest market for most of the games compared, and most of them sold mainly digitally, so the comparison is still a fair one. These are also Sensor Tower's estimates, and Rockstar and Take-Two haven't confirmed any figures. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has described pre-order levels as "unprecedented and astonishing" without giving exact numbers. What comes next The biggest surge may still be ahead. Sensor Tower expects most pre-orders to arrive in the final week before launch, and says the total could reach 25 million, which would mean more than $2 billion in revenue before release. For context, Modern Warfare 2 earned $800 million in its opening weekend, and GTA 6 has already passed that mark in pre-order revenue without a single copy shipped. GTA 6 launches November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with pre-loading set to begin November 12. View full article

Miami's transformation into Vice City has fans hunting for clues about what Rockstar Games might unveil next, and a wave of speculation about a live-action GTA 6 trailer has taken over social media. The paperwork suggests that isn't what's happening. Crews spotted across downtown Miami The rumors follow a run of Vice City promotion across the city, including the GTA 6 blimp, ads and building signage. Over the past few days, filming crews were seen in downtown Miami with cameras mounted on vehicles, shooting a fleet of West Coast Customs cars styled after the GTA VI vehicles. Cameras also rolled on Ocean Drive on Monday night, the real-world inspiration for the game's setting. With the game launching roughly a month away, many fans concluded Rockstar was shooting a live-action trailer. Aerial footage shared on October 16 shows the custom cars cruising the Venetian Causeway. The lineup included a pink and blue '95 Grotti Cheetah, a papaya orange Progen Emerus, a leopard-print Coquette D10 and a Pegassi VCPD Tempesta Interceptor. Permits tell a different story That theory appears to have fallen apart. Fan @smallo92 pointed out that the city's filming permits for the past week don't list Rockstar Games, and this week's permit doesn't either. One permit does stand out. It was issued to 305 Films and describes the job as "Social media for MH Vice." The Miami Heat connection "MH" almost certainly stands for Miami Heat. The team is hosting "A Night in Vice City" on the eve of Grand Theft Auto VI's release, with the Kaseya Center rebranded in Vice City style for the occasion. The footage is therefore most likely a promo video for that matchday event. It may also be shown inside the arena before tip-off. What it means for fans A live-action trailer would have been a big moment, but it isn't Rockstar's usual approach. The studio has historically relied on in-engine trailers rather than live-action spots, unlike many other publishers. Even without one, the marketing push is hard to ignore. The campaign has gathered serious momentum after a quiet few months, and the Heat collaboration shows how far the Vice City branding now reaches. Meanwhile, an extended version of the GTA VI launch trailer has started airing on TV. View full article

Rockstar Games has taken the GTA 6 launch trailer to broadcast television, and the version viewers saw on air isn't identical to the one online. The trailer was released last week, and Rockstar has since been pushing it across more channels. The campaign began with ads in social media feeds and has now reached traditional TV. The trailer aired during a commercial break in NBC's broadcast of the Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks game on Tuesday night. A fan watching the game noticed the spot didn't match the online cut. What's different in the TV cutFan Lorenzo Jordan posted a recording of the commercial on X, which shows several tweaks. Some scenes run longer and some have been removed. Extended moments: The clip of Raul Bautista dancing after the first shower scene runs longer. It's followed by footage of Lucia jumping onto a plane's landing gear. In the scene where Jason nudges Lucia, she is shown falling toward the floor for a little longer. Jason's attempt to grab a knife while caught in a chokehold is stretched out. Roxy from Real Dimez gets a very brief extension of her dancing clip. Removed moments: In the online version, the nudge scene is followed by Jason and Lucia kissing in the shower. The TV cut drops that moment entirely. The brief shot of Lucia's ankle tag is also gone. The extensions are small, a few frames here and there. Still, they show Rockstar is re-editing the trailer for different platforms rather than running the same cut everywhere. Cutting the shower kiss from a broadcast spot also fits what you'd expect from a primetime TV placement. Marketing ramps up ahead of launchRockstar's push comes as the release date draws closer. GTA 6 is scheduled to launch on November 19, and fans who caught the commercial were quick to say how eager they are for it. With the campaign now in social feeds, on TV, and spilling into the real world, expect more alternate cuts and placements in the weeks ahead. Speculation about a live-action GTA 6 trailer has also been picking up, as Miami gets a Vice City makeover tied to the game. View full article

Rockstar Games has followed up the GTA VI launch trailer with a fresh batch of official visuals: one new in-game screenshot and a set of key art starring the game's two leads. Jason and Lucia: Lock and Load The headline image is the artwork that doubles as the thumbnail for the launch trailer. Rockstar lists it on its website as "Jason and Lucia: Lock and Load," and it also appears on one of the game's many in-game vinyls. The scene is pure Vice City. Lucia sits on the hood of a bullet-riddled red car, handgun in one hand and a magazine in the other, while Jason stands close by with a firearm of his own. Behind them, palm trees frame a tropical sunset, and a seaplane cuts across the sky. Rockstar has published the art in logo and logoless versions, across a range of aspect ratios. That makes it easy to use as a wallpaper on phones, desktops or ultrawide monitors. A seaplane over the Grassrivers The new screenshot comes from Rockstar's recently launched music page. It shows a floatplane belonging to Brian Heder's business, Brian's Boat Works & Marina, flying low over the Grassrivers, the game's take on the Everglades, as the sun sets. The branding is visible on the side of the aircraft, and the golden-hour lighting shows off the water and the scattered tropical islands below. The plane in the screenshot echoes the seaplane in the Lock and Load artwork, which suggests Rockstar is leaning into aviation and the wetlands as part of its marketing push. Meet the composers Rockstar's music page also credits the French electronic duo Justice as the composers of GTA VI's original dynamic score. Promotional art of the pair is part of this release. What this means The new images arrive on a big day for GTA VI news. The launch trailer is out, a claim has surfaced that review copies will go out very soon, and Rockstar has also detailed the game's sweat system. Leaked details about the ending have also been circulating, which adds to the pre-release buzz. View full article

Rockstar Games released the Grand Theft Auto VI launch trailer on Thursday, October 15, with no advance warning, publishing the 90-second video to all of its social channels at 2pm BST. It is likely to be the game's final trailer. With the game now just over a month out, the video lands in the middle of a busy stretch of new screenshots, magazine features and marketing activations. Release date reaffirmed, built on a base PS5The trailer closes by restating the November 19 release date. The game launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. That puts to rest, for now, any talk of a last-minute slip. Rockstar has already moved the game twice, from 2025 to May 2026 and then to November. Rockstar also notes that the footage was captured entirely in-game on a standard PlayStation 5, not a PS5 Pro. That is a useful signal for anyone worried about how the game will look on the hardware most players own. A new track from Justice Music is a big part of this release. The trailer features new music from the electronic duo Justice, who composed the original score for GTA VI. It debuts a standalone Justice single, "Flower in a Hurricane," with Tame Impala, SZA and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. More of Jason and Lucia's storyThe trailer is focused on story rather than gameplay. It is a cinematic piece with little gameplay footage, in line with Rockstar's earlier launch trailers for Red Dead Redemption 2 and GTA V. It establishes that Jason used to be in the army and includes a jail call involving Lucia. It also follows their relationship as they try to make a name for themselves. Some coverage has described the tone as very Thelma & Louise-inspired, with the pair's ride-or-die bond at the center and plenty of explosions. What it means for launchWith roughly a month to go, another trailer looks unlikely. The launch trailer works as a clear confirmation that Rockstar is on track and moving into the final stretch of marketing. GTA VI launches November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. View full article

Fans who expected Rockstar to keep GTA 6 locked away from critics until launch day may be in for a surprise. New claims from well-known industry insider NateTheHate suggest reviewers will have the game in hand soon, with a fairly generous window to play it. Review copies are coming Speculation about GTA 6's review period has been building for months. Plenty of fans online have argued that Rockstar would skip early review access entirely, partly to keep the game from leaking. NateTheHate says that isn't the case. In a post on ResetEra, he answered a user asking whether review copies had already been distributed. According to him, they haven't gone out yet, but they will before October ends. If that holds, reviewers would get roughly two weeks or more with the game ahead of its November 19 release. That's a long runway for a title of this size, and it suggests Rockstar is confident enough in its security to hand the game over earlier than many expected. Reviews are expected before launch Insider Gaming has separately reported that review embargoes will lift before the game's November 19 release. That would put to rest another popular theory: that Rockstar would hold reviews until after the game was already on shelves. There's still some ambiguity. "Before launch" could mean the day before, or even just earlier in the day in certain time zones. Even so, it points to reviews being available ahead of release, which gives buyers, and especially pre-order customers, a chance to see critical reaction before the game goes live. What it could mean for the Game Awards The timing also raises a question about awards season. Earlier this month, reports suggested GTA 6 might miss out on Game of the Year consideration at The Game Awards because the nomination process begins so early. Last year, that cutoff fell on November 4. If critics and jury members receive the game before the end of October, some of them could have enough time with it to factor it into their nominations. Much will depend on how many reviewers Rockstar actually sends copies to, and whether that includes members of the jury. Nominees are typically announced just days after the game's release, so we won't be waiting long to find out. What to keep in mind NateTheHate has a strong track record, but these details are still unofficial. Rockstar hasn't announced a review embargo date or confirmed when copies will be distributed. We'll update you as soon as anything official surfaces. View full article

Halloween enters its third week in GTA Online, and Rockstar's month-long event shows no sign of slowing down. The latest weekly update runs from October 15th through the 21st, bringing boosted payouts on the spookiest activities, a new Weekly Challenge, and a fresh batch of freebies. Free Rewards This Week Just logging in and playing through October 21st earns you the Butchery and Other Hobbies T-Shirt. Players who finish the Don't F*** With Dre mission before the week ends also receive GTA$500,000 within 72 hours. Weekly Challenge: Win Three Races This week's Halloween Weekly Challenge is simple: win three Races to get the Orange Glow Skeleton Onesie and GTA$100,000. It's the third of five challenges, and completing all five by the event's end on November 4th unlocks an extra GTA$2,000,000, paid out within 72 hours of the final one. If you've skipped the earlier weeks, there's still time to catch up. Triple Rewards 3X GTA$ and RP is on offer across several Halloween favorites: Halloween Featured Series: Slasher and Ramius Slasher Halloween Survivals: Ludendorff Cemetery Survival, Cayo Perico Survival and Alien Survivals (6X for GTA+ members) San Andreas Super Sport Series: Hotring Races and Random Transform Races Community Race Series Several other activities pay 2X GTA$ and RP, including Bail Office Standard and Most Wanted Targets, Dispatch Work and UFO Business Battles. Jack O' Lanterns and Ghosts Exposed also stay boosted, at 4X for GTA+ members. Halloween Content Still RunningThe seasonal scares are all still active, with Slashers, the Phantom Car, Cerberus Surprise, Possessed Animals and Peyote Plants all returning. The Halloween masks, face paints, horns, bobbleheads and Casino decorations are also available. Casino, Car Meet and VehiclesLucky Wheel podium vehicle: the Grotti LSCM Cheetah Classic, priced at GTA$1,952,500 at Legendary Motorsport. GTA+ members get two spins every 24 hours. LS Car Meet Prize Ride: place top five in a Car Meet race to unlock the Dinka Kanjo SJ. Test Track vehicles: Declasse Vamos, Dewbauchee Seven-70 and Ocelot Locust. Hao Premium Test Ride: the Maibatsu MonstroCiti (PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC Enhanced). Premium Deluxe Motorsport: the Albany Brigham, Albany Fränken Stange, Albany Lurcher, Declasse Tornado Rat Rod and LCC Sanctus are on offer. FIB Priority File: The Brute Force File. Weapon Discounts Several weapons are marked down this week, with better prices for GTA+ members: Unholy Hellbringer: 10% off (GTA+ 50%) Widowmaker: 10% off (GTA+ 50%) Up-n-Atomizer: 10% off (GTA+ 50%) Knife, El Strickler, Combat Shotgun and Precision Rifle: 10% off (GTA+ 20%) Service Carbine: 30% off (GTA+ 30%) Pipe Bombs: 10% off (GTA+ 20%) What's NextThe Halloween event runs through November 4th, so there are still two more weeks of challenges and rewards ahead. Next week's challenge is to complete all waves of a Survival for the Gray Space Interloper Outfit and GTA$150,000. View full article

Developers say characters will sweat more or less depending on how hard they're exerting themselves Grand Theft Auto VI's long development may owe something to details most players will only notice in passing. A new report says Rockstar Games built a dedicated system that controls how much its characters sweat. The detail comes from a video report by Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, who spoke with Rockstar developers about the studio's push for realism. According to Schreier, that ambition is one of the main reasons the game has taken so long to make. Systems this granular take a lot of research and development time, and he points to that level of detail as a top contributor to the lengthy production. How the sweat system worksScreenshots and trailers had already suggested that sweat on GTA 6's characters would look more convincing than in past games. Until now, it wasn't clear whether that was just a visual upgrade or something deeper. Schreier says it's a scripted system tied to physical effort. Protagonists like Lucia and Jason will sweat in different amounts depending on how much they're exerting themselves. His example is a nightclub: a character who dances hard will sweat noticeably more than one who is standing around. Schreier says this shows "the level of detail they put into this game." Why it mattersRockstar has a track record of building small, reactive systems that make its worlds feel lived in, and the studio's recent games are known for fine details like these. A sweat system won't change how GTA 6 plays, but it fits the pattern. Characters whose appearance reflects what they've just been doing make the world feel more believable, especially in a game built around nightlife, heat and constant movement. It also adds weight to a long-running fan theory: much of GTA 6's long wait went into hundreds of small features like this rather than headline mechanics. What we don't know yetThis isn't an official Rockstar announcement. The information comes from Schreier's reporting after speaking with Rockstar staff. The studio hasn't published details on how the system behaves outside the nightclub example, whether it responds to weather or activities like running and combat, or how visible it will be in normal play. Those questions will likely be answered once the game is in players' hands. For more on GTA 6, keep an eye on the site for the latest news and leaks. View full article

Rockstar Games' next project is not going to take as long as Grand Theft Auto VI did, according to the studio's own senior staff. The pledge comes from a new Bloomberg feature by journalist Jason Schreier, who spoke with senior Rockstar leaders about how the game was made. According to the report, the studio's executives say GTA VI has given them a base to create new content at a faster pace than they have managed over the past decade or so. They specifically vowed that the next title will not take eight years. A foundation, not a one-off The reason, they say, is the work done behind the scenes. Phil Hooker, Rockstar North's Director of Technology, told Schreier that the engine, tools and team built for GTA VI will let the studio work more quickly, adding that Rockstar can build on top of it and "go more sideways than upwards" to create more compelling content. Aaron Garbut, Rockstar North's Art Director, echoed that approach, explaining that the team fundamentally changed a lot of its systems for this project, and now that the work is finished, Rockstar has no plans to rip it apart and start over. The GTA III to Vice City comparison Schreier was also given a historical comparison. Rockstar likened this moment to the stretch between Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, two games released about a year apart because so much of the groundwork was done in the first one. Don't expect GTA 7 or Red Dead Redemption 3 within twelve months. But the comments suggest the gap between Rockstar releases could shrink considerably. A new IP, or the return of a classic series, could plausibly arrive in a much shorter window than the long waits fans have grown used to, though Rockstar has not announced anything of the sort. What it means for fans Rockstar's release history has been defined by long gaps. With GTA VI due on November 19, the studio is now saying that investment in its pipeline should pay off in future projects. Whether that holds up will only be clear once Rockstar announces what comes next, but for a fanbase used to waiting, it is an encouraging signal. More GTA VI news this week Fresh GTA VI merchandise went on sale Tuesday alongside an art installation displaying pieces from the game. Separately, a new report claims several sources expect GTA VI to arrive on PC by March 2027, though that is not confirmed by Rockstar. View full article

The images accompany a new Bloomberg feature by Jason Schreier, who was invited inside Rockstar North to speak with senior staff about the game's development. The piece reportedly gives a rare look at how the studio feels about recent events and what lies ahead. Jason and Lucia get muddy The first screenshot shows Jason and Lucia in the off-road and dirt racing area of Leonida. Both are covered in mud and enjoying a beer. We saw a glimpse of this part of the map in the trailers, and more of it in the recent gameplay leaks. This is the first time Rockstar has officially shown the duo in this setting. A new car on Ocean Drive The second screenshot is a close-up, rear view of a car on Ocean Drive at sunset. Neon signs glow along the strip while a police helicopter flies low overhead, which captures the Vice City atmosphere well. The car appears to be a new Pegassi Zorrusso, but with a different manufacturer badge and name: GranForma. The lettering on the back also differs, which suggests a different model name. That could mean the series' fictional car brands are being reworked for GTA 6, or that this is a new variant altogether. Rockstar hasn't commented. Businessweek cover and illustrations The Bloomberg story is also the cover feature of Bloomberg Businessweek's November issue. It includes two illustrations by artist Viktor Hachmang to go with the article. More GTA 6 news It's been a busy week for GTA VI. More merchandise dropped on Tuesday alongside an art installation showing pieces that can be found in the game. A new report also claims multiple sources say the game will come to PC by March next year. View full article

Wynwood Walls announced a partnership with Rockstar Games, and Miami-Dade County residents will get free entry to the museum through 2028. The collaboration lands as GTA 6's November 19 launch approaches, and it ties the game's setting to the street art scene that helped inspire it. Free Admission and 10 New MuralsAccording to the museum, free entry covers the rotating murals and sculptures, exhibitions at the Goldman Global Arts Gallery, hands-on spray-painting, and an upcoming artist-in-residence program. To mark the occasion, 10 new murals are going up across Wynwood and inside the museum, based on original in-game artwork from Grand Theft Auto VI. The artists involved are Askew One, DENIAL, FAILE, Gons and Audet, Lady AIKO, Queen Andrea, Ron English, Tristan Eaton, and Miami-based artists ATOMIK and Tatiana Suarez. Wynwood Appears in GTA 6The museum's announcement also says GTA 6 will feature a district called "Stockyard," based on Wynwood, with more than a dozen artists contributing original artwork to the game. The stated goal is to represent the city, its culture and its identity authentically. The Art of Vice City Merch Collection The partnership also brings The Wynwood Walls Art of Vice City Collection to the Wynwood Walls Shop. It features work from the 15 artists whose art appears in GTA 6, and includes tees, keyrings and more. The collection is sold exclusively through the museum's shop. Highlighted pieces include: Leonida T-shirt by Tristan Eaton We Love Vice City Beach Towel by Queen Andrea Eye Got You Hoodie by AHOL Hit the Road Laptop Sleeve by D*Face Vice City Paradise Cap by FAILE The range also includes water bottles and notebooks, and the shop lets buyers browse by artist. Outlets disagree on availability: RockstarINTEL reports the drop is live now, while others say pre-orders have opened. Check the shop for current stock and pricing. A Third Round of GTA 6 Merch This is the latest in a run of GTA 6 products. On September 24, Rockstar revealed the $400 Goodtime State – Vice City Collection box. On October 8, it opened an official store collection of individual tees, caps, totes and collectibles, with more items promised later. The Wynwood Walls range is separate from both and focuses on the artists' work. With GTA 6 arriving on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19, expect more announcements and merch before launch. View full article

PC players who have been bracing for a long wait on Grand Theft Auto VI may get better news than expected. A new report says Rockstar Games is aiming to release the PC version in the first quarter of 2027, only a few months after the game's console debut. What the report says According to GamesBeat, Rockstar is currently targeting a PC launch sometime between January and March 2027. The outlet says the information comes from four separate industry sources familiar with the studio's timeline. The report follows earlier talk from VGC's Andy Robinson, who said there had been "noise" in the industry about Rockstar pulling the PC version's release date forward. A big shift from Rockstar's usual approach Grand Theft Auto VI is currently announced only for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with a release date of November 19, 2026. Rockstar hasn't announced a PC version, and its official GTA VI page doesn't list the platform. If the report is accurate, the wait would be far shorter than PC fans have had in the past: GTA V launched on PS3 and Xbox 360 in September 2013. The PC version didn't arrive until April 2015, a gap of roughly 19 months, after several delays. Red Dead Redemption 2 took just over a year to reach PC. GTA VI would reach PC in roughly two to four months if the Q1 2027 window holds. Why Rockstar might move faster this time Take-Two has repeatedly described PC as an important and growing market. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said on the company's May earnings call that its games come to all platforms eventually, but he stopped short of confirming a PC version of GTA VI. A Q1 2027 release would also fall inside Take-Two's fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2027. That lines up with an earlier claim from the leaker DetectiveSeeds, who said in April that former Rockstar employees pointed to a February 2027 PC launch. They described it as not final, but as the outcome Take-Two and Rockstar would prefer. What isn't confirmed Rockstar hasn't commented on the GamesBeat report. There is also some conflicting evidence. Take-Two's fiscal year 2027 release table from May listed GTA VI only for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, which led some observers to expect a later PC date, potentially late 2027 or beyond. An updated release list showing the PC version would make the Q1 2027 report much more credible. What it could mean for GTA Online and the console launch A PC release months after consoles could change how some players approach launch day. Anyone with both a capable PC and a current-generation console might decide to hold off on buying the game until the PC version arrives. Others will likely play on console first and move over later. Forbes contributor Paul Tassi noted that the timing could also suit a launch of GTA VI's online mode across all platforms at once. There is no confirmation that an online mode will launch alongside the main game, or before the end of 2026. Tassi said he plans to play on PlayStation on day one and likely move to PC for the online experience. A PC release would also matter to the roleplay community. PC has long been home to the modding scene and the large GTA V roleplay servers, and that audience will be watching closely for any word on how GTA VI supports them. What's next Until Rockstar says otherwise, treat the Q1 2027 window as a report, not a promise. There is still no official PC release date, price, system requirements or storefront information. We'll update this story as soon as Rockstar or Take-Two says anything on the record. View full article