Grand Theft Auto VI will cost $80 for the standard edition and $100 for the Ultimate edition. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick believes this isn’t even a deal, but something more—and he explained why in his Q1 2027 financial year report. The publisher also lifted the lid on 29 projects currently in development, and we delved into the details behind each item.
You may have already heard: GTA 6 is releasing on November 19th, pre-orders opened on June 25th, and in just five days, they’ve earned Take-Two $1.39 billion in net revenue (a full $1.53 billion according to GAAP). These are numbers that would make any publisher dizzy, but Zelnick remains unfazed—he knows the biggest surprises are yet to come. The first of these is the price, which, according to him, shouldn’t raise any questions.
Key facts in two paragraphs: GTA 6 will be released on November 19, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Standard Edition is $79.99, the Ultimate Edition is $99.99. The physical box does not contain a disc, only a download code. Take-Two has 29 games in development, including 8 sports games, 8 sequels, 7 remasters, and 3 new IPs. Pre-orders have already generated over $1.4 billion, and the company’s CEO declared the price of GTA 6 “an incredible deal” and even an understatement.
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“An Incredible Deal” for $80: What Take-Two’s CEO Said
At a meeting with investors, Zelnick didn’t beat around the bush. He said bluntly: calling GTA 6 for $80 a “great deal” is an understatement. Because Rockstar, he said, always delivers more than expected, and this time, history will repeat itself.
“We’ve said this many times. Our goal is to give consumers much more value than the price we’re asking. Calling GTA 6 an incredible deal isn’t enough, because Rockstar is renowned for always exceeding expectations,” Zelnick said.
He also emphasized that Take-Two didn’t jack up the price to capitalize on the hype, even though it could have – demand for the game is unprecedented, with pre-orders breaking records. But the company deliberately chose not to do so because its philosophy isn’t to squeeze the most out of each release, but to build long-term relationships with players. Incidentally, Zelnick specifically noted that GTA 6’s price won’t set a new standard for all Take-Two games. For example, Mafia: The Old Country will be released for $50, and that’s fine. Each project is priced according to its scale and content.
And this raises a logical question: if the base version is already an “incredible deal,” then what’s the $100 Ultimate Edition? Let’s find out.
GTA 6 Ultimate Edition: What’s Included and Is the Extra $20 Worth It
This is the most pressing question on everyone’s mind when opening a PlayStation or Xbox store. The source material claims the Ultimate Edition has caused controversy—and indeed, there’s a lot of negativity online. But let’s take a closer look at what the extra twenty dollars is for.
Take-Two and Rockstar have officially confirmed the contents of this version. In addition to the game itself and the standard pre-order bonuses (the Vintage Vice City bundle and a month of GTA+), the Ultimate Edition gives access to five exclusive locations on the map:
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Custom Body Shop – tuning for any car;
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Sarah’s Beauty Salon – hairstyles, shaving options, and manicures;
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Stock 305 Clothing Store – over 50 exclusive looks;
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Electric Fang Tattoo Parlor – unique tattoos;
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One-Eyed Wheelie Shop – SUV mods.
Additionally, the Ultimate Edition includes the iconic retro-futuristic ’95 Grotti Cheetah Hawk sports car, the ’67 Vapid Dominator Buggy off-roader, the Dinka Enduro motorcycle, and exclusive weapons—the Hawk and Little Morgan revolvers from the Vercetti family collection. All of this content will not be available to owners of the standard edition unless they choose to purchase an upgrade later (available in stores).
GTA VI — Edition Comparison
Is it worth the extra money? An IGN survey found that over 70% of respondents would be willing to upgrade to the Ultimate Pack. This isn’t surprising if you plan to spend dozens of hours in the game. For $20, you get access to what would otherwise be permanently locked—essentially, a bundle of exclusive content that makes your experience more enriching. But if you’re the type to play through the story and forget about it, go with the standard version and save money.
How Take-Two Will Save Money: 29 Games in Development
GTA 6 is just the tip of the iceberg. According to the report, Take-Two currently has 29 projects under its wing, not counting minor updates. Let’s break it down.
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Existing franchises – 15 games: 8 of which are full-fledged sequels, and 7 are remakes, remasters, or ports to new platforms. The company didn’t reveal which ones, but we can assume the list includes cult hits like Red Dead Redemption, Max Payne, Mafia, BioShock, Borderlands – in short, everything fans have been yearning for.
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Sports segment – 8 games: everything is clear here. NBA 2K27 (released September 4, 2026), PGA 2K27, and WWE 2K27 have already been announced. These are traditionally solid mid-tier titles that generate a steady income.
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New IPs – 3 projects: the most high-profile is Judas from Ghost Story Games (the same guys who made BioShock), and Project ETHOS from 31st Union. What these will be is still a mystery, but the studios’ extensive experience hints at something unusual.
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Mobile games – 3 projects: two of them have already been announced – CSR 3 and Top Goal from Zynga, the third is still unnamed.
Interestingly, the only game with a firm release date is GTA 6. The remaining projects are still in development, and, apparently, Take-Two is in no hurry to accelerate the pace, preferring quality over quantity. Meanwhile, the seven untitled remasters are the very same hole we tried to pry open. According to our expert assessment, this list could include Red Dead Redemption (finally on PC?), Max Payne (a homage to the classics), and Mafia: Trilogy—but these are just speculations; they have not been officially confirmed.
Will GTA 6 Be Released on a Disc? Take-Two’s Take on Digital
One of the most surprising pieces of news that emerged during the earnings call: the physical edition of GTA 6 will not contain a disc. The box will only contain a download code. And this isn’t some kind of gimmick – Zelnick explained that over 90% of Take-Two’s business already comes from digital distribution.
“Today, playing video games requires an internet connection, so everyone is connected. The only question is how to deliver the game most efficiently,” he said.
He compared physical boxes to vinyl records – they’re not going away, but they’re becoming a niche product. Incidentally, this decision coincides with Sony’s plans to stop releasing new disc-based games for PlayStation starting in January 2028. So, the disc-less GTA 6 isn’t a whim of Rockstar, but a reflection of a global trend. Physical boxes will go on sale on November 12, a week before the release, but they’ll only contain a download code. And yes, this applies to all versions, including Ultimate.
AI Enhances Capabilities, Not Replaces Humans – Zelnick’s Position
At the end of the financial report, Zelnick again addressed the topic of artificial intelligence. His position hasn’t changed: AI should assist developers, not replace them. He criticized competitors who openly talk about cutting staff costs through neural networks. Take-Two, on the contrary, plans to use increased efficiency to increase the scale and quality of their projects. Tellingly, it’s this philosophy that allows them to simultaneously run 29 games – not replacing humans, but giving them more powerful tools.
What’s the Bottom Line?
Three key takeaways for players:
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The price of GTA 6 is $80 for the standard version and $100 for Ultimate. This isn’t a steal, but a reflection of scale and inflation. And yes, the basic version is already an “incredible deal,” according to the publisher.
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The Ultimate Edition is worth the money if you love customization and want the most from day one. The standard edition is sufficient for the story-driven experience.
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There won’t be a disc – this decision is dictated by the market, where 90% of sales are already digital. If you’re a collector, the box with the code is your choice.
What do you think? Are you willing to pay $100 for the Ultimate Edition or will you stick with the base version? Let us know in the comments – let’s discuss.
