If you’ve been following GTA 6 news since the first trailer dropped in late 2023, you’re probably counting down the days until you can get your hands on the next entry in Rockstar’s iconic open world franchise. The game is already breaking records for trailer views, fan theories, and general hype across every social media platform. One of the most common questions popping up in every gaming forum, comment section, and group chat right now is when will GTA 6 pre order start. We’ve pulled together all official clues from Rockstar, past release patterns, and verified retailer information to give you the most up-to-date answer possible.
When Will GTA 6 Pre Order Start: What We Know From Rockstar’s Past Patterns
Rockstar has a very consistent track record when it comes to pre order timelines for their big AAA releases, so we can make a very educated guess based on their past behavior. For Red Dead Redemption 2, the studio first announced the game three years before launch, and opened pre orders exactly 8 months before the official release date. For GTA 5, pre orders went live 6 months before the game first launched on PS3 and Xbox 360 back in 2013.
We already know GTA 6 is scheduled to launch at some point in 2025, exclusively for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S first, with a PC release coming at a later date. That puts the likely pre order announcement window somewhere between late 2024 and early 2025, depending on whether Rockstar sticks to the 6-month or 8-month timeline they’ve used before. Rockstar typically announces pre order dates via their official social media channels and Newswire page first, so you don’t need to trust random third-party listings right now.
Some retailers have already put up placeholder pages for GTA 6 where you can sign up for email alerts when pre orders go live, and that’s completely safe to do. None of these pages are asking for payment yet, so signing up just means you’ll get a notification as soon as reservations open, no risk involved. I signed up for alerts from two different retailers last month, and I haven’t gotten any spam or suspicious messages from them so far.
What Pre Order Bonuses and Editions Are Likely For GTA 6
Rockstar almost always offers multiple editions of their big releases, each with different bonuses for casual and hardcore fans, and GTA 6 will almost certainly follow that same pattern. Based on what they offered for GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, we can expect at least three different editions to choose from when pre orders go live. Here’s what you can likely expect from each:
- Standard Edition: Base game, plus a bonus in-game vehicle or exclusive outfit pack for single player. This is the best pick for casual fans who just want to play the main story and don’t care about extra digital content.
- Special Edition: Base game, early access to single player story DLC, exclusive property in Vice City that you can’t get after launch, and $1,000,000 in starting GTA Online cash. This is a good middle ground for fans who plan to play both single player and online.
- Collector’s Edition: Physical items like a printed Vice City map, custom character statue, official soundtrack vinyl, and a steelbook case, plus all digital content from the Special Edition. This is only worth it for super fans who want physical collectibles, as it usually costs double the price of the standard edition.
You will almost always get the best value pre ordering directly from Rockstar’s own store, as third-party retailers rarely offer extra exclusive bonuses. The only exception is sometimes GameStop will offer a free physical poster or keychain for pre orders, but those are usually very low value compared to Rockstar’s own digital bonuses.
Pre order bonuses for online content usually expire 30 days after launch, so if you care about exclusive items you won’t be able to get later, reserving early is worth it. For GTA 5, the pre order bonus online cash was only available for people who reserved the game before launch, and you couldn’t get that same amount for free after that window closed.
Common Pre Order Scams to Avoid Right Now
With how much hype there is around GTA 6, scammers are already taking advantage of impatient fans to steal money and personal information. I’ve seen dozens of fake posts on TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit claiming to have live pre order links for GTA 6, and a lot of people are falling for them. There are a few key red flags you can look for to avoid getting scammed.
Never send payment for a GTA 6 pre order to any individual seller on marketplace platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace, as these are almost always fake. Most of these listings are just photoshopped images of game cases, and the seller will disappear as soon as you send them money. You also won’t have any way to get your money back if you pay via peer-to-peer transfer apps like Venmo or Cash App.
Legitimate retailers like Amazon, GameStop, and Best Buy will only let you put down a fully refundable pre order deposit once Rockstar gives the official go-ahead. If a random gaming website is asking for your full credit card information or full payment for a pre order right now, it’s 100% a scam. Legitimate retailers will never charge your card until the game is ready to ship, even if you reserve a copy early.
Another common scam is fake giveaway posts that claim you can win a free GTA 6 pre order if you click a link and enter your personal information. These posts are just designed to steal your email address, credit card info, or social media login details, so don’t engage with them at all. The only official GTA 6 giveaways are run directly through Rockstar’s verified social media accounts.
Is Pre Ordering GTA 6 Worth It For You?
A lot of people debate whether pre ordering games is worth it these days, and the answer really depends on your play style, budget, and how excited you are for the game. There are clear pros and cons to reserving a copy early, so you should weigh both sides before you decide to spend your money.
The biggest benefits of pre ordering are the exclusive bonuses we mentioned earlier, guaranteed access to the game on launch day, and the option to pay in small installments over time if you don’t want to pay full price all at once. If you’ve been waiting for GTA 6 for years and know you’re going to play it the second it comes out, pre ordering makes a lot of sense. You won’t have to worry about copies selling out, and you’ll get all the extra content that won’t be available after launch.
On the other hand, pre ordering means you won’t get to see early reviews of the game before you pay for it. While Rockstar has a very good track record of releasing polished, high-quality games, there’s always a chance that GTA 6 could have bugs or performance issues at launch that make it not worth the full price. If you’re on a tight budget, waiting a few weeks after launch to buy the game might also mean you can get it on sale for 10-20% off.
If you’re a casual fan who only plays single player and doesn’t care about exclusive online items, you can safely wait until after launch to buy the game. You won’t miss out on any core content, and you’ll be able to make a more informed decision based on reviews and player feedback after the game comes out. If you’re a hardcore fan who plans to play GTA Online every day for the next few years, pre ordering is definitely worth it for the extra starting cash and exclusive items.
At the end of the day, we’re all just as impatient as you are to find out when will GTA 6 pre order start, but the best move right now is to stick to official sources for updates. Sign up for email alerts from trusted retailers if you want to be notified as soon as pre orders go live, avoid any suspicious links or listings asking for payment right now, and decide what edition fits your needs and budget ahead of time. We’ll update this post as soon as Rockstar makes any official announcement about pre order dates, bonuses, or release details, so check back regularly for the latest news.
