GTA 6 Standard vs Ultimate Edition: Which Should You Buy?

GTA 6 comes in two editions: Standard at $79.99 and Ultimate at $99.99. Both launch on November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and neither lets you play earlyReported4. dexerto.com — GTA 6 price, Ultimate Edition and pre-orders now live. So the question is simple: is the Ultimate Edition's extra content worth $20 to you?

Our price and editions breakdown lists every item in detail. This guide skips the catalogue and helps you decide.

The short answer

Buy the Standard Edition unless you already know you love customising cars, outfits and hideouts. You get the full story, the full map and the same launch dateReported5. games.gg — GTA 6 editions explained: Standard vs Ultimate and every bonus7. svg.com — GTA 6 editions compared: is the Ultimate Edition actually worth it?. And because you can upgrade to Ultimate at any time for $20, starting with Standard costs you nothing if you change your mind later.

Standard vs Ultimate side by side

What the extra $20 actually buys

The Ultimate content falls into four groups:

• Vehicles: the '95 Grotti Cheetah, a '67 Vapid Dominator buggy, a Shitzu Squalo boat, a Dinka Enduro bike, a kayak and a retro kit for Jason's Vapid Ganado.
• Weapons: the Hawk and Little Morgan scoped revolvers, plus custom versions of two handguns.
• Shops: five stores you can't use on Standard, including a custom garage, an off-road mod shop, a salon, a streetwear store and a tattoo parlour.
• Missions and apparel: a raid on a gang compound, a classic-car restoration line at Wyman's World Auto Salvage, and two exclusive clothing packs for Jason and Lucia.

Rockstar says this content unlocks gradually as you progress through the story rather than all at once on day one. None of it changes the main storyReported5. games.gg — GTA 6 editions explained: Standard vs Ultimate and every bonus7. svg.com — GTA 6 editions compared: is the Ultimate Edition actually worth it?, and the shops are part of the single-player gameReported5. games.gg — GTA 6 editions explained: Standard vs Ultimate and every bonus.

Who should buy the Ultimate Edition

• Customisation fans. Five shops is the biggest difference. If tuning cars and changing looks is half the fun for you, the Standard Edition will feel slightly smallerReported3. keengamer.com — GTA 6 prices and editions: which edition should you buy?.
• Completionists. The extra missions and side content only exist in Ultimate.
• Fans who'd pay for it later anyway. Upgrading costs the same $20, so if you're certain, there's no reason to wait.

Who should stick with Standard

• Story players. You get every story mission, the whole of Leonida and the same endingReported5. games.gg — GTA 6 editions explained: Standard vs Ultimate and every bonus7. svg.com — GTA 6 editions compared: is the Ultimate Edition actually worth it?.
• Anyone on a budget. $20 is a lot for items that unlock over time and don't affect the plotReported5. games.gg — GTA 6 editions explained: Standard vs Ultimate and every bonus7. svg.com — GTA 6 editions compared: is the Ultimate Edition actually worth it?.
• The undecided. Start with Standard, see how much time you spend in garages and clothes shops, and upgrade later if you want to.

SVG, for one, concluded the Ultimate Edition is "by no means a must-have" for most players and is aimed at completionists, collectors and dedicated fansReported7. svg.com — GTA 6 editions compared: is the Ultimate Edition actually worth it?. We agree.

Don't miss these either way

Pre-order bonuses come with both editions

Any pre-order placed before launch includes the Vintage Vice City Pack and one free month of GTA+. That's a reason to pre-order whichever edition you pick, as long as you're sure you'll buy it.

Cancel GTA+ if you don't play GTA Online

GTA+ renews at its normal monthly price after the free month, and its perks are for GTA Online, not GTA 6. Set a reminder to cancel.

Physical copies are just a code

Boxed copies contain a download code instead of a disc, so you'll download the game either way. Digital pre-orders can start downloading on November 12, which is the strongest argument for buying digital.

There's no third edition

There is no collector's edition or deluxe tierReported5. games.gg — GTA 6 editions explained: Standard vs Ultimate and every bonus8. opencritic.com — GTA 6 pre-order guide: price, bonuses and everything else you need to know. If you're holding out for a fancier version, there isn't one.

Our verdict

For most people, Standard plus a pre-order is the smart buy: full game, the Vintage Vice City Pack and a week of pre-loading. If after a few weeks in Leonida you find yourself living in garages and clothes shops, the $20 upgrade will still be there.