$3 billion per day: GTA VI paid for itself before it was released
Imagine a casino where visitors bring money to the cash register even before the doors open. This is exactly what Rockstar did: pre-orders for GTA VI started on June 25 — and, according to retailers, in the first 24 hours players sold about 39 million copies worth about $3 billion. The first wave of pre-orders ended in about an hour. GTA 5 took three days to reach its first billion — and it was considered the phenomenon of the decade.
An important disclaimer that grabs headlines: the numbers are still unofficial, Take-Two is silent. But even if the reality turns out to be twice as modest, this is still the largest launch in the history of entertainment — cinema and music nervously smoke on the sidelines.
Why is everyone paying money for a pig in a poke
Players have sworn for years to “never pre-order” — and here is the result. The reasons, to be honest, are clear:
- 13 years of waiting. A whole generation grew up between the fifth and sixth part.
- Lack of trust — but not in Rockstar. The studio almost never released failures, and its credit for faith is bottomless.
- Fear of being left behind. The first batch was gone in an hour — classic FOMO kicked in.
- The price is still reasonable. $80 for the standard and $100 for the expanded edition — cheaper than the alarmists predicted, who promised a base price tag of $100.
There is also a fly in the ointment: physical editions come without a disc — there is only a download code in the box, and there will be no PC version at launch. Release is set for November 19, 2026, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only. On xrust.ru we will monitor whether the hype will survive until the fall or Rockstar will once again test the nerves of fans with a transfer.
Do you think this is a well-deserved triumph or mass marketing hypnosis? Have you pre-ordered or are you waiting for reviews? We argue in the comments.
Xrust GTA VI: pre-order record
