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Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick says preorders for Grand Theft Auto VI are running “far in excess” of the company’s expectations ahead of its Nov. 19 release. Rockstar has not disclosed preorder totals, and Take-Two says it will provide more information on the game’s performance after launch.
Grand Theft Auto VI preorders are running “far in excess” of Take-Two Interactive’s expectations, CEO Strauss Zelnick told Variety on Monday, ahead of the game’s scheduled Nov. 19 launch. Rockstar has not published preorder totals, so the comments reflect the company’s assessment rather than a confirmed sales figure.
Zelnick made the remark in an interview with Variety ahead of Take-Two’s earnings release. He said the strong presales were “a good thing,” while cautioning that the company does not claim success before it happens. “We’re just days away from beginning to see the fruits of our labor,” he said.
Rockstar has not confirmed exact preorder results, despite rumors about the game’s sales circulating online, according to the report. Zelnick said Take-Two would provide more information about GTA 6’s performance after release. The company previously described early preorder activity as “unprecedented” after preorders opened in June; the new comment does not include a total or a comparison figure.
The game is scheduled to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S and X. The standard edition is priced at $79.99, while the ultimate version costs $99.99. Zelnick did not announce other platforms or a physical-disc release, saying such information would come from Rockstar.
What the Presales Comment Indicates
Zelnick’s comments indicate reported demand for a major upcoming game release, but they do not establish post-launch results. Preorders indicate interest before release; they do not establish how many copies will ultimately sell, how players will respond, or what revenue the title will generate.
That distinction is relevant to players and investors. Buyers have a firm launch date, platforms and listed edition prices, while the company has yet to publish a preorder count. Take-Two’s post-launch updates should provide more information for evaluating performance than the CEO’s description of presales alone.
The game’s launch also arrives as Take-Two reported a $54 million quarterly loss for the July-to-September period. The company reported $1.6 billion in net bookings, against analyst consensus of $1.66 billion in revenue, according to LSEG data cited by Variety. These figures describe the company’s quarter and do not establish GTA 6’s future performance.
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The Road to November 19
Rockstar opened GTA 6 preorders in June. Take-Two described the early response as “unprecedented” at the time, and Zelnick’s latest statement says presales have continued to exceed the company’s expectations. Neither comment, as reported, provides a specific number of orders or a defined comparison period.
Take-Two’s quarterly results provide a separate snapshot of the publisher’s business. For the July-to-September quarter, it reported $1.38 billion in game revenue and $121 million in advertising sales. Sales for NBA 2K were softer than anticipated, the report said. The company’s quarterly loss and bookings figures do not establish how GTA 6 will perform after its release.
Questions about a PC edition, a Nintendo Switch 2 version and a full physical-disc release remain open. Zelnick said future platform and release-format information would come from Rockstar, rather than making an announcement himself.
““[Presales are] running far in excess of our expectations.””
— Strauss Zelnick, Take-Two Interactive CEO, speaking to Variety
Sales Figures Still Awaited
No exact preorder total has been released, and the source report does not give a baseline for measuring how far presales exceed expectations. The statement is attributed to Take-Two’s CEO, but it remains a company characterization rather than a published sales metric.
Actual launch sales, customer response and the game’s financial contribution are not yet known. The scheduled date and platforms are stated in the report, but possible versions for PC or Nintendo Switch 2, as well as a full physical-disc release, have not been confirmed. Zelnick also declined to comment to Variety on SAG-AFTRA’s statement supporting Rockstar workers’ decision to unionize.
Launch Results After Release
GTA 6 is scheduled to go on sale on Nov. 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series S and X. Take-Two has said it will give more information about the game’s performance after launch, but the report does not specify when those figures will be shared or which measures the company will publish.
Until Rockstar or Take-Two releases further details, preorder volume, possible additional platforms and physical-release plans remain unconfirmed. Information about commercial performance will become available after the game is released.
Key Questions
When is GTA 6 scheduled to launch?
It is scheduled for Nov. 19, 2026, according to the Variety report.
How many copies of GTA 6 have been preordered?
Rockstar has not disclosed an exact preorder total. Zelnick said presales are far above Take-Two’s expectations but did not provide a number or comparison baseline.
Which platforms will have GTA 6 at launch?
The reported launch platforms are PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S and X.
How much do the reported editions cost?
The standard edition is listed at $79.99 and the ultimate edition at $99.99.
Has Rockstar confirmed a PC or Nintendo Switch 2 version?
No such versions were confirmed in the report. Zelnick said platform and release-format announcements would come from Rockstar.
Source: variety.com
