We all knew it would break all kinds of records, but now there are finally some numbers behind the hype. GTA 6 has pulled in roughly $429 million in pre-order revenue so far, according to new estimates from analyst firm Sensor Tower. That figure comes from about 4.38 million copies sold worldwide, months before the game even launches on November 19.
The analysis also covers the platform split, which leans heavily toward Sony. Sensor Tower's numbers show PS5 accounting for 77% of pre-orders, with Xbox Series X|S making up the remaining 23%. In raw numbers, that works out to 3.38 million copies on PS5 for $331 million in revenue, and just over 1 million copies on Xbox for $98 million in revenue.
Apparently, this tracks with what Take-Two has already said about pre-order demand. CEO Strauss Zelnick previously called the numbers "astonishing and unprecedented," and it looks like the Ultimate Edition is doing most of the heavy lifting here too. Sensor Tower's earlier data pegged the $100 edition at nearly 90% of all pre-orders, well above the industry norm, where premium editions usually account for a much smaller share of day-one sales.
It's interesting to note that GTA 6 has hit nearly half a billion in revenue before Rockstar's big marketing push. The company hasn't even shown a gameplay trailer yet, and we only have two cinematic trailers and a few screenshots to base our purchase decision on.
However, that is changing soon, as Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look premieres on Netflix on August 27, marking the first time a major publisher has partnered with a streaming service for a game reveal this way. A free version follows a few hours later on YouTube and Rockstar's own site, so the footage won't stay locked behind a subscription for long.
Some analysts think the Netflix deal is aimed at reaching casual viewers who haven't already pre-ordered, rather than the hardcore fans who locked in their copies months ago. Regardless, these early numbers suggest GTA 6 could end up being one of the biggest entertainment launches ever, gaming or otherwise.
Pre-order revenue alone already rivals what plenty of blockbuster movies make in their entire theatrical run. If the Netflix showcase is well received and actual gameplay footage builds on the hype instead of undercutting it, that PS5-Xbox split and overall sales pace could climb even further before November.
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That said, it's worth noting these are third-party estimates, not confirmed figures from Rockstar or Take-Two. Sensor Tower's tracker updates weekly, so the numbers will definitely change by the time GTA 6 actually launches.
