GTA 6. Everything we know so far [Release, editions, and pre-orders]

16 October 2026

To say that people were excited about the GTA 6 news would be an understatement. One of the most popular RPG games ever made has finally received its first trailer. Welcome to Vice City: Grand Theft Auto 6 is happening! 

Last update: October 16, 2026

GTA 6 pre-orders officially begin on June 25, 2026. So, players who want to ensure they will embark on the adventure with Jason and Lucia on release day can get their copies now and rest easy knowing that spoilers won’t ruin their experience.

A crucial detail for collectors to keep in mind is that physical box versions will not contain a game disc, but only an activation code inside the case to download the title.

Here is the breakdown of the officially revealed launch editions:

  • Standard Edition ($79.99)
    • Content: Access to the full single-player base game experience following the story of Jason and Lucia across Vice City and the broader state of Leonida.
  • Ultimate Edition ($99.99)
    • Content: The full base game plus an exclusive premium content bundle designed to unlock progressively as you advance through the story chapters.
    • Exclusive Perks: Premium vehicles (including the retro ’95 Grotti Cheetah), stylized weapons (such as the Hawk & Little Morgan Revolvers and engraved signature sidearms), unique apparel, custom hairstyles, and access to exclusive in-game businesses like Rideout Customs and Sara’s Unisex Salon.

Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI, which was due to release on 26 May next year, has been delayed again, this time to the end of 2026. In the official message, developers have expressed that the iconic return of the series will happen on November 19, 2026.

Hi everyone,

Grand Theft Auto VI will now release on Thursday, November 19, 2026.

We are sorry for adding additional time to what we realize has been a long wait, but these extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve.

We want to thank you again for your patience and support. While the wait is a little longer, we are incredibly excited for players to experience the sprawling state of Leonida and a return to modern day Vice City.

Sincerely,
Rockstar Games

Players could feel relieved when, in early February, Take-Two representatives assured that the release date would remain unchanged. They also stated that GTA VI would be available in both physical and digital versions.

GTA 6 trailers

Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) is an upcoming action-adventure video game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the sixth main installment in the Grand Theft Auto series, following Grand Theft Auto V, which was released in 2013.

Taking into account the huge popularity of the series, the internet went crazy as soon as the very first trailer was released.

On October 15, Rockstar released the launch trailer. Even though the video doesn’t reveal many new details about the game, it proves that the November release date is secure.

Setting and characters

Returning to Vice City, we’re met with an extraordinary glimpse of an intricately crafted urban landscape. The trailer showcases a city teeming with vibrant nightlife, criminal undertakings, and… lots of alligators. After all, Vice City is largely inspired by Florida.

The story is going to focus on a new protagonist, Lucia. The trailer hints at a narrative akin to that of the legendary duo Bonnie and Clyde. We are more than sure that Rockstar won’t disappoint, as the glimpses of the narrative already look promising.

Are we going to see characters from previous GTA installments? We have to wait until the release to learn more details, but it would be more than great to see at least references from other GTA games.

The latest trailer and updates highlight one of the defining features of every GTA game: a compelling cast of diverse, memorable, and complex characters.

GTA 6 introduces two central protagonists: Jason Duval and, for the first time in the series, a female lead, Lucia Caminos. Her character description reads:

Lucia’s father taught her to fight as soon as she could walk.
Life has been coming at her swinging ever since. Fighting for her family landed her in the Leonida Penitentiary. Sheer luck got her out. Lucia’s learned her lesson — only smart moves from here.
More than anything, Lucia wants the good life her mom has dreamed of since their days in Liberty City — but instead of half-baked fantasies, Lucia is prepared to take matters into her own hands. Fresh out of prison and ready to change the odds in her favor, Lucia’s committed to her plan — no matter what it takes.

Here is how Duval is described on the official website:

Jason wants an easy life, but things just keep getting harder. Jason grew up around grifters and crooks. After a stint in the Army trying to shake off his troubled teens, he found himself in the Keys doing what he knows best, working for local drug runners. It might be time to try something new. Meeting Lucia could be the best or worst thing to ever happen to him. Jason knows how he’d like it to turn out, but right now, it’s hard to tell.

Other characters include many diverse personalities that embody the spirit of GTA6. Those include mafia bosses, music stars, tech specialists, and more.

Extended Look and Gameplay Mechanics

In late August 2026, Rockstar treated fans to Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look, a highly anticipated gameplay presentation recorded entirely on the PlayStation 5. In an unprecedented move, this massive preview debuted exclusively on Netflix before becoming available on YouTube and Rockstar’s official website a few hours later. The strategy paid off immensely, with the footage racking up over 31.1 million views on the streaming platform in just four days.

This extensive material finally gave players a taste of true next-gen mechanics, showcasing advanced lighting systems with vehicle headlights realistically reflecting off puddles and road signs. The presentation also highlighted dynamic car theft methods, allowing players to choose between a fast, loud window smash or a much slower, stealthy key-cloning approach. Furthermore, we got a glimpse of a completely overhauled six-star police pursuit system. Law enforcement is now far more intelligent, capable of identifying the protagonists based on their clothing, facial features, or vehicle. This means that simply driving away won’t always be enough; changing your outfit or switching cars will be necessary to fully evade capture.

RPG Elements and Character Progression

Beyond the stunning visuals and action, the recent updates confirm that GTA 6 is pushing the franchise in a new direction by integrating RPG-style mechanics into everyday gameplay. Character progression will rely on various daily activities; for instance, successfully shooting hoops on a basketball court rewards the player with a visible “+2% Focus” stat boost, proving that casual sports and exercise will directly impact your protagonist’s abilities.

Physical exertion is also tied to a stamina meter, which drains during forceful actions like wrestling a driver out of a stolen car. Most notably, the game introduces a morality and reputation system heavily inspired by Red Dead Redemption 2. Unprovoked crimes, such as attacking random civilians, will trigger a negative penalty. This indicates that your decisions will dynamically shape how the world and its inhabitants react to Jason and Lucia, making the consequences of your chaos feel more real than ever before.

Dynamic Weather System

Adding to the realism, Game Informer revealed that Grand Theft Auto VI will feature an advanced weather system designed to simulate the unpredictable tropical climate of real-life Florida. Players exploring the sprawling state of Leonida will encounter dynamic cloudscapes and localized storms, meaning you might be standing in a perfectly sunny spot while watching a heavy downpour in the distance.

Driving through a recently rained-on area will reveal persistent puddles and wet surfaces, and under the right lighting conditions, you might even spot a rainbow! The game will also include much more violent weather phenomena, such as tropical storms and seasonal hurricanes. While it remains unknown exactly how these massive events will impact gameplay and the narrative, their presence alone promises to make the world feel more dynamic and immersive than ever before. It also sounds like something that will squeeze every ounce of computing power from our PS5 consoles.

Moreover, Game Informer revealed that the GTA VI map will be twice as big as the world in its predecessor.

Multiplayer

The popularity of GTA multiplayer activities has been undeniable, making it highly likely that GTA 6 will also introduce online servers. However, Rockstar didn’t share any details on this matter, leaving us eagerly awaiting any news on the subject.

Release date

Unfortunately, the bad news is that we won’t get to experience Grand Theft Auto 6 anytime soon. The trailer has disclosed that the next highly anticipated chapter in this iconic series is slated for release around 2025. Unfortunately, at the beginning of May 2025, Rockstar officially announced that GTA 6 won’t premiere this year. The good news is that the developer revealed an exact date. We will return to Vice City on May 26, 2026.

“We are very sorry that this is later than you expected. The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team. We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game,” the company’s statement reads.

Take-Two Interactive, the publisher of GTA, has announced that GTA 6 will be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. While details about a PC release have not been disclosed, it is highly likely that the game will eventually make its way to computers in the future.

GTA 6 on PC

PC players had to wait two long years to have a chance to play GTA V on their favorite platform. Apparently, this window for the latest installment could be much shorter. According to GamesBeat, Rockstar plans to release GTA VI on PC in the first quarter of 2027. This means that the PC release would follow the initial launch by less than six months.