Rockstar Games has announced an adjustment to the retail release and digital preloading schedule for Grand Theft Auto 6. Physical copies of the "code-in-a-box" edition will now be available for purchase starting November 10, two days earlier than the initially planned November 12 release. Similarly, the preloading date for digital and code-in-a-box versions has also been moved up to November 10.
Despite these changes, the actual in-game launch date for Grand Theft Auto 6 remains November 19. This means that while players may be able to acquire a physical copy of the game earlier, they will not be able to play it until the official launch day. Rockstar Games has not provided a reason for these scheduling adjustments. The developer also did not respond to requests for comment.
It was also confirmed that the premium $100 Ultimate Edition of Grand Theft Auto 6 will not be sold in physical retail stores. This decision, along with the move away from traditional discs, is seen as a strategy to maximize revenue.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to launch on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Players in the United States will be among the last to access the game globally due to the non-simultaneous worldwide launch.