As the video game industry prepares for what analysts predict could be the largest product launch in history, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick said presales for “Grand Theft Auto VI” are “running far in excess of our expectations.”
The highly anticipated title from Rockstar Games is scheduled to release on Nov. 19 following two previous delays by the publisher, arriving 13 years after the debut of its predecessor, “Grand Theft Auto V.” Speaking with Variety in an interview ahead of the company’s earnings release, Zelnick said that while demand is exceptionally high, the company remains measured, stating, “That’s a good thing. That said, we never claim success before it occurs.”
The standard edition of the game will be priced at $79.99, while the ultimate version will cost $99.99, with availability set for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S and X devices. Roth analyst Eric Handler estimated that the development of the game cost more than $1 billion, backed by an abundance of time, money, and patience from parent company Take-Two Interactive.
Analysts Project Massive Commercial Milestones and Higher Time-Off Requests
Financial analysts and market researchers expect massive commercial milestones for the title. Sensor Tower estimated over 12 million preorders through Nov. 13, while Morgan Stanley forecast that the game could sell 40 million copies by March 2027.
The economic ripple effects of the launch extend far beyond traditional entertainment metrics. According to data from the workplace time-off platform BambooHR reported by CNBC, paid time off requests for the release date are nearly 13% higher than equivalent days in 2024 and 2025, with nearly one in five workers planning to take time off for the launch.
A PwC report examining the broader economic impacts projected that food delivery services could experience a surge as gamers stay home, and Miami tourism—the real-world inspiration for the game’s fictional setting of Vice City—could also see a benefit.
However, the launch is also expected to temporarily draw consumer attention away from competing entertainment sectors. Bart Spiegel, who leads PwC’s Global Entertainment & Media sector, said that the game will likely pull eyeballs away from video streaming platforms during the holiday season, potentially leading to lower earnings numbers reported across the media industry in the first quarter of 2027.
Digital Creators Anticipate Major Engagement Boosts from the Release
Digital creators and streaming platforms anticipate major engagement boosts from the release. A content creator known as Deansocool, who has 375,000 followers on Twitch, described the magnitude of the event to CNBC by stating, “This is like a hundred times bigger than Fortnite.”
The franchise has historically demonstrated remarkable longevity. Even 13 years after its initial release, “Grand Theft Auto V” remains among the top five most-viewed games on Twitch. Industry figures such as Twitch Chief Product Officer Mike Minton point to the upcoming launch as a sustaining opportunity for creators to grow and retain audiences over the long term.
Regarding future platform expansions, such as potential releases on PC or the Nintendo Switch 2, Zelnick said that “information always comes from our labels,” leaving those announcements to Rockstar Games.
Earlier coverage: Logitech Gives Employees 1 Day Off to Play GTA 6 at Launch
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