After two delays, Grand Theft Auto VI is finally close enough to count down in weeks. Rockstar’s return to Vice City launches November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Here is everything that’s confirmed, and a few things worth knowing before you pre-load.
Release date, platforms and performance
GTA VI arrives November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. As of September there was still no PC version scheduled, so PC players are waiting again, just as they did for GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2.
In August, Rockstar confirmed the game will run at 30 FPS on both consoles at launch. That has been a talking point since, especially for players hoping for a performance mode on day one.
The long road to launch
- December 2023: The first trailer pointed to a 2025 window. It leaked a day early and still hit 101 million views in two days.
- May 2025: Release moved to May 26, 2026. Trailer 2 followed, reportedly drawing around 475 million views across platforms in 24 hours.
- November 2025: Rockstar pushed the date one final time to November 19, 2026, citing extra polish.
- August 27, 2026: An “extended look” premiered on Netflix ahead of YouTube, and demand reportedly strained both Netflix and Twitch.
Welcome to Leonida
The game is set in Leonida, Rockstar’s take on Florida, with Vice City (its fictionalized Miami) at the center. The map is reported to be roughly three times the playable area of Red Dead Redemption 2.
You play as criminal duo Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos. Lucia is the series’ first non-optional female lead.
Price, editions and pre-orders
The standard edition is reported at $79.99. Cover art and special editions were revealed on June 18, and pre-orders opened June 25. Take-Two described sales as “unprecedented and astonishing.” Sensor Tower estimated that about 89% of pre-orders were for the Ultimate Edition.
Pre-orders include the Vintage Vice City Pack. Rockstar has also stated there will be no microtransactions and no generative AI at launch.
Planning to buy physical? Boxed copies contain a download code rather than a disc. They go on sale November 12, and you can pre-load a week ahead of launch.
The hype machine is in full swing
- Music: Rockstar announced Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album, featuring 34 original songs, and opened previews of six in-game radio stations.
- Vice City in real life: The roof of Miami’s Kaseya Center lit up with “Welcome to Vice City” signage on October 1. On November 18, the night before launch, the Miami Heat will play as “Vice City” against the Milwaukee Bucks.
- Merch: The Goodtime State – Vice City Collection merchandise line is on the way, sold separately from the game.
A word on leaks
It wouldn’t be a Rockstar launch without leaks. A leaker known as “CyberLeek” has released more footage this month that journalists believe comes from a developer build. Rockstar also said in September it had installed privacy film on its Edinburgh office windows after drones were used to photograph inside.
If you want to go in fresh, now is a good time to mute some keywords.
The bottom line: five weeks to go. Clear your calendar for November 19, and clear some storage space for that pre-load on the 12th.
Sources
Header image: “Miami night skyline” by Don Ramey Logan, Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY 4.0
