GTA 6 Is the Most Pre-Ordered Game Ever, 9.69 Million Pre-Orders Worth $942M

Grand Theft Auto VI is officially the most pre-ordered game in history. Sony and Microsoft confirmed on Monday, November 10, 2026, that the game has set pre-order records on both the PlayStation Store and the Microsoft Store, and market intelligence firm Sensor Tower estimates about 9.69 million digital pre-orders worth roughly $942 million, passing the previous record of 8 million set by Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020, with nine days still to go before launch.

Key Points

• Sony and Microsoft confirmed on Monday, November 10, 2026, that Grand Theft Auto VI is the most pre-ordered game ever on the PlayStation Store and the Microsoft Store.
• Sensor Tower estimates about 9.69 million digital pre-orders across PS5 and Xbox Series X|S as of November 10, worth roughly $942 million.
• A November 11 update put pre-sales at 10.31 million copies, more than $1 billion before launch, passing Cyberpunk 2077's record of 8 million pre-orders from 2020.
• About 75% of pre-orders are on PS5, around 7.23 million, versus Xbox at around 2.46 million.
• The figures are Sensor Tower estimates, not official Rockstar or Take-Two numbers; pre-loading began November 10, and the game launches November 19, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only.

What Happened

The confirmations came from the platform holders themselves. Sony, on the PlayStation Blog, and Microsoft, on Xbox Wire, both said on Monday, November 10, that Grand Theft Auto VI had become the most pre-ordered game in the history of their stores. It is rare for the two rival platforms to announce the same milestone on the same day, and the twin confirmations underline how far ahead of every previous release the game already sits.

The numbers come from Sensor Tower, which tracks digital storefronts. Its estimate put digital pre-orders at about 9.69 million copies across PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S as of November 10, worth roughly $942 million. A day later it updated the figure to 10.31 million copies, taking pre-sales past $1 billion nine days before release. The old record belonged to Cyberpunk 2077, with about 8 million pre-orders in December 2020. Physical pre-orders, including code-in-box editions on sale from November 12, are not counted.

Background and Context

Grand Theft Auto VI is the most eagerly awaited game of 2026, and arguably the most anticipated entertainment launch of the year. It is the first new mainline entry since Grand Theft Auto V in 2013, and it returns the series to Vice City, Rockstar's fictional Miami, with new protagonists Lucia and Jason. First revealed in a trailer in December 2023, its release date has moved more than once, most recently settling on November 19, 2026.

The long wait only raised expectations. Pre-orders opened in June, and pre-loading began on Tuesday, November 10, with downloads of up to 212GB, one of the largest file sizes ever for a console game. Rockstar moved the pre-load two days earlier than planned so players would have time to download the enormous file. Read more in our report on GTA 6 pre-loading ahead of the November 19 launch.

The Standard Edition costs $79.99. The Ultimate Edition, at $99.99, adds vehicles, weapons and outfits, and a limited Collector's Edition costs $399.99 but includes no copy of the game. No PC version has been announced, with reports pointing to early 2027.

GTA 6 Pre-Orders: The Numbers Behind the Record

The split between consoles tells its own story. About 75% of pre-orders are on PlayStation 5, around 7.23 million copies, against about 2.46 million on Xbox Series X|S. That gap reflects the PlayStation 5's much larger installed base, and it fits the pattern of this generation's biggest releases, where Sony's console has taken the larger share. PlayStation's momentum has been a bright spot for Sony, which reported a 45% profit jump in its latest quarter. Read more in our report on Sony's profit jump on Spider-Man and PlayStation.

The $942 million figure is striking, and the $1 billion mark crossed a day later is more so. Few films, albums or games of any kind take in a billion dollars before release, and no game has done it on pre-orders alone. One caution matters: these are Sensor Tower estimates from storefront data, not official figures from Rockstar or Take-Two. Neither company has published an official pre-order number, and the final total, including physical editions, will be higher than the digital-only estimate.

Reactions and What the Industry Is Saying

Other publishers have cleared the calendar around November 19, with few major releases scheduled in the weeks before and after launch, a sign of how thoroughly one game can dominate the market. Retailers are preparing for code-in-box physical editions to reach shelves on November 12, a week before the game unlocks. For players, the talk has turned from whether the game will live up to the hype to practical questions: clearing 212GB of storage, switching on automatic downloads, and leaving the console in rest mode. The record is the latest proof that, thirteen years after Grand Theft Auto V, appetite for a new entry has not faded.

Why It Matters

Cyberpunk 2077's 8 million pre-orders in 2020 was seen as a once-in-a-generation figure, and it stood for six years. Grand Theft Auto VI has beaten it by more than a fifth, nine days before release, with physical pre-orders still to be counted. A launch of this size pulls money, attention and shelf space toward a single title and raises the bar for every publisher planning a big release in 2027. For Rockstar, it is the payoff for thirteen years of development and two delays. For the industry, it is proof that the blockbuster model is alive and well.

What Happens Next

Pre-loading continues this week on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with the download needing up to 212GB of free storage. Code-in-box physical editions go on sale from Thursday, November 12. The game unlocks at midnight local time on Thursday, November 19, 2026. After launch, attention will turn to first-week sales and whether Grand Theft Auto VI can challenge the all-time launch records held by its predecessor. Rockstar and Take-Two are expected to report sales figures in the days after launch. PC players face a longer wait, with reports pointing to early 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pre-orders has GTA 6 had?
Sensor Tower estimates about 9.69 million digital pre-orders as of November 10, 2026, worth roughly $942 million. A November 11 update put pre-sales at 10.31 million copies, more than $1 billion.

What was the previous pre-order record?
Cyberpunk 2077, with about 8 million pre-orders ahead of its December 2020 launch. Grand Theft Auto VI has passed it by more than a fifth.

Are the pre-order figures official?
No. They are Sensor Tower estimates from digital storefront data. Rockstar and Take-Two have not published an official figure, and physical pre-orders are not included.

When does GTA 6 launch?
Thursday, November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, at midnight in each player's time zone. No PC version has been announced.

How much does GTA 6 cost?
The Standard Edition is $79.99, the Ultimate Edition is $99.99, and a limited Collector's Edition is $399.99 but does not include a copy of the game.