GTA 6 Pre-Orders 'Unprecedented', Take-Two Says, but No Numbers
Take-Two says GTA 6 pre-orders are far above expectations and the game is finished. No sales figures, but hints on roleplay, mods and Rockstar's next project.
Take-Two reported its results on November 9, ten days before GTA 6 comes out. The game was the main topic. CEO Strauss Zelnick said GTA 6 pre-orders are reaching "unprecedented levels" and are far above what the company expected. He also confirmed that Rockstar has finished making the game.
What he didn't give was a number. Take-Two shared no pre-order or sales figures. GTA 6 still launches on November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Quick answers
| Question | What Take-Two said |
|---|---|
| How are pre-orders going? | Far above expectations, "unprecedented" |
| How many copies? | No number given |
| Is the game finished? | Yes, development is complete |
| Release date | Still November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S |
| PC version? | Any news will come from Rockstar, not Take-Two |
| What's next for Rockstar? | To be announced "in the fullness of time" |
| GTA 6's budget? | Not revealed |
| Forecast for the year | Unchanged at $8.0 to $8.2 billion |
"Unprecedented" pre-orders, but no numbers
Zelnick said demand is far in excess of expectations and that the company expects a historic year because of it. That's as far as he went. Real sales figures will only come after launch.
The best outside estimate comes from Sensor Tower, which put GTA 6 pre-order revenue at about $750 million as of November 3. Take-Two hasn't confirmed that figure. Our pre-order record story explains how it was calculated and how it compares to other games.
None of that money shows up in these results yet. The quarter Take-Two just reported ended on September 30.
Why Take-Two didn't raise its forecast
If pre-orders are so strong, why keep the forecast the same? Zelnick said the company never declares success until it has been earned and saw no need to update the numbers yet. Take-Two kept its forecast of $8.0 to $8.2 billion in net bookings for the year.
Analysts have their own guesses. Wells Fargo expects around 50 million copies at an average price near $90, but Take-Two hasn't confirmed that. Wedbush assumes about 40 million copies over the fiscal year, and Wolfe Research expects 31 to 35 million. Zelnick declined to say how many console owners might buy the game.
GTA 6 is finished
Management said development is complete and Rockstar's marketing campaign is fully set. In other words, GTA 6 has gone gold. Zelnick said Rockstar's priority now is a smooth technical launch.
After that, he said, Rockstar will focus on what comes next and announce it "in the fullness of time". He didn't name a game. Separately, he said Take-Two's biggest franchises, GTA included, will look dramatically different over the next decade, but he gave no timeframe for a next GTA. Headlines about a faster GTA 7 go further than anything he said.
The preload is already running. It started in New Zealand on November 10, with a PS5 download of about 209.8 GB. You can download the game now, but you can't play it until November 19. Our preload story has the details.
The $1.5 billion budget question
GTA 6's budget is still officially secret. On the call, an analyst raised a Bloomberg interview in which Rockstar's head of publishing said development cost no more than $1.5 billion. Zelnick rejected how the market had read that remark, and management didn't confirm any figure.
For what Zelnick said about the cost in an earlier interview, read our Zelnick WSJ interview story.
PC, Online and piracy
PC. Take-Two wouldn't talk about new versions of the game. Any news about a PC or streaming version will come from Rockstar. GTA 6 launches on consoles only.
An analyst also asked about GTA roleplay, which today lives on PC through servers like FiveM. Zelnick said the console and PC experiences tend to be roughly the same, without saying whether roleplay could come to consoles. He added that the FiveM business is profitable and that Take-Two isn't "religious" about modding. See our GTA 6 PC guide for what we know.
GTA Online. Management said GTA Online will keep getting new content and events. Rockstar hasn't announced a date for GTA 6's own online mode. Our GTA Online after GTA 6 guide explains what happens to the old game.
Piracy. Management expects piracy to get harder to fight, including from AI-assisted reverse engineering. It still considers piracy manageable and is strengthening its technical and legal defenses. On the idea of fans using AI to build an unofficial PC port, Zelnick said he sees it as a creative problem rather than a financial threat.
How the quarter went
The rest of the results were weaker. Net bookings fell 18% to $1.60 billion. NBA 2K27 sold more than 4 million copies but came in below Take-Two's own forecast. GTA was one of the biggest contributors in the quarter.
Things should look very different soon. Take-Two expects revenue in its next quarter, the one in which GTA 6 launches, to more than double. Ultimate Edition sales are expected to drive growth in in-game spending, because the edition's extra content is counted that way. Most of the GTA 6 marketing money will also be spent in that quarter, around launch.
The call also mentioned other upcoming games. BioShock 4 and the online shooter Project Ethos are progressing, Zelnick said. Borderlands has passed 100 million copies sold.
What it means for you
Nothing changes for players. GTA 6 is done, it's still coming on November 19, and the preload is live. Our launch guide has everything to do before then.
Sources
Based on 15 videos and articles. Here are the main ones, with credit to their creators.
- Article[Take-Two Interactive Software Q2 2027 Earnings Call] GTA VI Pre-Orders 'Far in Excess' of Expectations as Take-Two Reiterates $8.0–$8.2 Billion Outlook Despite Q2 Bookings Missfinance.biggo.com
- ArticleTake-Two Interactive (TTWO) Q2 2027 Earnings Call Transcriptgloom.sh
- ArticleTake-Two says GTA VI preorders beat forecasts, but shows no numbersgagadget.com
- ArticleStrauss Zelnick Confirms GTA 6 Development Is Complete Ahead of Launchgtaboom.com
- ArticleGTA VI Pre-Orders Surpass $750 Million; Take-Two Reports Q2 Earnings Mondaytechtimes.com
Show all 15 sources +Show fewer −
- ArticleDocumentsec.gov
- ArticleTake-Two Q2 2027: GTA VI Is the Whole Bet Now247wallst.com
- VideoThe GTA 6 Number Take-Two Won’t Say (TTWO Earnings)Rumen Ivens | Markets & Investing
- ArticleNo Word on GTA Roleplay for Consoles — Take-Two CEO Says PC and Console GTA Are "Roughly the Same"vgtimes.com
- VideoTake-Two (TTWO) Missed Its Own Guidance—Why Did the Stock Go UP 4%?Big Picture Investing With Kevin McCormick
- VideoHow Much GTA 6 Can Actually Make?Kay Speaks
- ArticleA week before GTA 6, Take-Two CEO is already teasing "what comes next" from Rockstargamesradar.com
- ArticleGTA 7 Could Move Faster Than GTA 6, Take-Two CEO Saysvgtimes.com
- Article'The experiences on console and PC tend to be roughly the same,' says Take-Two CEO in response to question about GTA roleplayingpcgamer.com
- ArticleTake-Two Sees AI-Made GTA 6 PC Ports as a Creative Threat, Not a Financial Onevgtimes.com
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