Grand Theft Auto VI has achieved the strongest pre-order campaign ever recorded, according to market data analyst firm Newzoo. While refuting social media reports of the game reaching one billion dollars in pre-orders, the firm's analysis suggests substantial initial revenue for Rockstar's highly anticipated title.
Newzoo's data indicates that players spent approximately $180 million on digital pre-orders across the US and European markets during the final week of June. When projected onto the player distribution model of Grand Theft Auto V, this figure leads Newzoo to estimate that GTA 6 generated $260 million globally in its first week of pre-order sales. This includes an estimated $180 million from the US and Europe, with an additional $80 million from other worldwide regions.
"That kicks off the strongest pre-order campaign ever recorded," Newzoo stated in its analysis. The firm's projections suggest that GTA 6 is on track to achieve between $3.25 billion and $5.2 billion in week-one launch revenue, selling an estimated 51 million units. Newzoo described the claims of a billion dollars in pre-orders 21 weeks prior to launch as "absurd," noting that such pre-order curves are unprecedented and unlikely in the near future.
"What the data actually shows is $180 million in digital pre-order spend across the US and the five largest European markets in the final week of June, translating to a global opening week of roughly $260 million, with most of the ramp still ahead," the analysis clarifies. Even under the most conservative revenue projection, GTA 6 is set to achieve remarkable figures by historical standards.
The game is scheduled to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 19. Notably, a PC version has not been announced, a common strategy for Rockstar that allows for a potential future release on the platform, as seen with Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2. This could represent an additional significant market for future sales.
Players who have pre-ordered the game will not receive a physical version. While specific details on physical pre-order options were not elaborated on, the current confirmation is for digital purchases.