Sony announced that GTA VI has become the most digitally pre-ordered game in the history of the PlayStation Store. Facing "unprecedented" demand, Sony and Rockstar decided to move up the pre-load window to nine days before launch, allowing players to jump straight into the game upon unlock.
The game will unlock progressively based on local time in each country or region. The first unlocks begin at midnight on November 19, New Zealand time, followed by other regions as they enter November 19.
Digital pre-orders for GTA VI opened on June 25. The physical edition includes a redemption code inside the box, which may have shifted some purchase demand toward digital channels.
Rockstar has not disclosed the actual number of pre-orders, stating only that current figures exceed its external expectations. Sensor Tower estimates total pre-orders at approximately 9.69 million copies, with about 75% coming from the PS5 version; both figures are projections by analytics firms and have not been confirmed by Sony or Rockstar.
The PlayStation Store has been selling digital games for over a decade, and GTA VI broke historical records more than a week before its release. However, final sales figures and whether it will become the so-called "biggest digital launch in the industry" remain to be seen pending official data.