Sensor Tower: 89% of GTA6 preorders are for the $100 ultimate edition
Grand Theft Auto 6 is seeing unprecedented demand for its premium edition, with 89% of preorders going to the $100 Ultimate Edition rather than the $80 standard version, according to digital intelligence firm Sensor Tower. This split—90% on Xbox and 88.5% on PlayStation—vastly exceeds typical premium edition adoption rates, which usually range between 10-20% across the gaming industry.
The findings confirm statements from Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, who recently noted that preorders are “skewing more to the premium edition.” However, the actual extent of this preference surprised industry observers.
Sensor Tower estimates GTA6 could reach approximately 25 million preorders by release, generating around $2 billion in revenue. According to Karl Kontus, SVP and GM of Video Game Insights at Sensor Tower, this preorder revenue alone could cover the game’s entire development budget and a significant portion of its marketing expenses. While Rockstar Games and Take-Two have not disclosed specific production costs, the scale of success suggests the game’s financial performance is already secured before launch.
Kontus noted that the current preference for the Ultimate Edition may shift as more casual buyers enter the market closer to release. Preorders began in late June and have generated what Take-Two described as “unprecedented” interest. The extraordinary uptake of the premium edition underscores consumer enthusiasm for GTA6 and demonstrates the effectiveness of Take-Two’s pricing strategy.