GTA 6 Preloading: Here’s What to Know Before the Nov. 19 Launch
Preloading for Grand Theft Auto VI is live on PlayStation and Xbox ahead of the November 19 release. Here is what the game costs, how the $80 Standard and $100 Ultimate editions differ, and what internet providers are offering.
Preloading for Grand Theft Auto VI is live on PlayStation and Xbox ahead of the game's November 19 launch. Players can download the game before release day, so it is ready to run when it unlocks.
GTA 6 launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The one decision left for many buyers is which edition to get.
Standard or Ultimate
The Standard Edition costs $80. The Ultimate Edition costs $100. Anyone who has already bought Standard can pay to upgrade.
The Ultimate Edition adds extra weapons, cosmetics and cars, including a '95 Grotti Cheetah and Hawk & Little Morgan Revolvers. It also unlocks storefronts for exclusive content, such as salons and tattoo parlors for customizing a character, and shops for modding guns.
Rockstar says the extras are spread through the campaign. "Ultimate Edition bonuses are threaded across all aspects of Jason and Lucia's story, with new items uncovered behind each chapter," the studio says.
Preorder bonuses
Both editions carry preorder bonuses for buyers who purchase before November 20. They include retro weapons, outfits and vehicles inspired by the 1980s version of Vice City.
Preorders also come with one month of GTA+, Rockstar's membership for Grand Theft Auto Online. Rockstar values it at $8.
Is the upgrade worth it?
Opinions differ. Gabe Zamora, a games writer, called the split part of a frustrating trend of studios cutting games up and selling the pieces back as DLC, or downloadable content. "It gives Rockstar a way to charge 100 bucks for a game without looking like bad guys," he said.
Still, the Ultimate perks look supplemental rather than core to the game, and the Standard Edition will have plenty of styles and guns of its own. The recommendation is to buy Ultimate if you plan to play for weeks or months. If you are curious about the hype, start with Standard and upgrade later.
Internet providers join in
Internet providers are targeting the download. Comcast's Xfinity is giving gamers a free 15-day WiFi speed boost for the launch. Charter Communications is promoting its Spectrum Internet Gig tier as a faster way to download the game.
Data found in the preloaded game files and on the PlayStation Store has also fueled talk about multiplayer. Reports say it hints at support for GTA 6 Online. Rockstar has not detailed that mode in the material released so far.
