Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for release on 19 November for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, following two delays from its original launch window. Pre-orders opened in June, while players who pre-order can begin pre-loading the game from 12 November.
The game is expected to be one of the most ambitious and costly titles ever developed, with estimates suggesting production costs exceeded $1 billion.
New protagonists and familiar setting
For the first time in a 3D GTA title, players will be able to control a female protagonist, Lucia, alongside her partner Jason.
The story follows the pair through the fictional state of Leonida, Rockstar's version of Florida, with Vice City, inspired by Miami, returning as the game's main urban setting.
Pricing and platforms
The standard edition will cost £69.99 in the UK and $79.99 in the US, while a premium edition featuring extra content will be available at higher prices.
Rockstar has not yet announced a PC release date, nor confirmed whether the game will be released on Nintendo Switch 2.
Online mode remains unclear
Current store listings describe GTA 6 as a single-player experience, suggesting that an online component may not be available at launch.
However, given the enormous success of GTA Online, many expect a multiplayer version to follow later.
More than a decade in development
The previous instalment, GTA V, launched in 2013 and became one of the best-selling video games of all time, with almost 230 million copies sold.
Rockstar officially confirmed development of GTA 6 in 2022, although work is believed to have been under way for years. The project has also faced challenges, including major leaks and production pressures.
Why the excitement?
Few entertainment franchises rival Grand Theft Auto in popularity and commercial success.
The series is renowned for its vast open worlds, freedom of exploration and sharp satire of modern culture. Industry observers say each new instalment has pushed technical and gameplay boundaries, helping to explain the extraordinary anticipation surrounding GTA 6.
The game's first two trailers have attracted hundreds of millions of views, highlighting the intense global interest ahead of its release.
Source: BBC News
