GTA 6 is scheduled to launch on November 19, and players will need a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S console to play it. The least expensive new option is the Xbox Series S, priced at $500. That is $200 above its launch price in 2020, with macroeconomic and AI-related factors contributing to higher hardware costs.
The Xbox Series X costs $750 without a disc drive and $800 with one. Although GTA 6 will not be sold on a disc, a drive could still be useful for other games and DVD or Blu-ray media. On Sony’s side, the digital PS5 starts at $600, while the PS5 Pro with a disc drive costs $900. The Pro is expected to offer the strongest technical and graphical performance among these systems, although gameplay should be the same across platforms.
Cheaper refurbished options are also available directly from the manufacturers. Sony lists certified refurbished PS5 consoles from $500, while a certified refurbished Xbox Series S costs $400. Used systems can also be found through other retailers and marketplaces, where prices may vary.
New and certified refurbished consoles include the system, controller and power cables. Players will also need a television or monitor, although many prospective buyers may already have one. GTA 6 has not been announced for Switch 2 or PC. A PC version is expected in early 2027, while there is no information about a Switch 2 release.
The standard edition of GTA 6 costs $80, and the Ultimate Edition is priced at $100. The game is digital-only, although retailers will sell the standard version in physical stores as a code in a box. The Ultimate Edition appears to be available only through digital storefronts.
The Ultimate Edition includes additional cosmetics and access to in-game shops unavailable to standard-edition buyers. Preordering either edition includes the Vintage Vice City Pack and one free month of GTA+. Because the game is digital-only, players will not need to worry about physical stock selling out.
An internet connection is required to install the game. GTA 6 reportedly occupies 201GB, but preloading begins on November 12, one week before launch. Code-in-a-box copies will also become available in stores that day, although they will not provide early access; the game unlocks on November 19.
GTA 6 is described as a single-player game, so PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass will likely not be required at launch. Rockstar has not confirmed this. A new version of GTA Online may arrive later, potentially in early 2027, and an online component could require a subscription.
Rockstar and Take-Two have not explained why GTA 6 is a digital exclusive. Analysts cited in the source point to higher returns from digital sales, the elimination of the secondhand market and the continued shift in consumer spending toward digital games. The game’s reported size also avoids the cost of producing an additional disc.
Sources: GameSpot.