Eight days left for GTA VI

After more than a decade in development, Grand Theft Auto VI is just eight days away from release, with players able to pre-download the highly anticipated game from Tuesday.

Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games' parent company, said on Monday that pre-orders had exceeded initial expectations, with market intelligence firm Sensor Tower estimating that 7.71 million digital copies had already been reserved by 3 November.

Around 25 million pre-orders have been projected by launch day on 19 November, when players will finally be able to take to the streets of Vice City.

Unlike GTA: Vice City, which was set in the 1980s, GTA 6 takes place in a modern-day setting in the fictional US state of Leonida, inspired by Florida.

Rockstar Games described it as “the glamour, hustle, and greed of America captured in a single city.” Each neighbourhood, it said, has something unique to offer, whether its “art deco hotels and bright white sands” or large yachts sitting in the VC Port.

This time, however, the game extends well beyond Vice City, Rockstar Games' fictional version of Miami. Players will also be able to explore the Leonida Keys, inspired by the Florida Keys, alongside Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia, and Mount Kalaga National Park.

What is the storyline?

The game follows a Bonnie and Clyde-style criminal couple, Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, whose story revolves around robberies, organised crime, romance, and a criminal conspiracy stretching across Leonida.

Lucia has recently been released from prison after serving time for fighting to protect her family. Determined to escape poverty and build a better future, she becomes involved with Jason, a former soldier who has found himself working for drug runners in the Florida Keys.

Jason, meanwhile, is a former soldier hoping to leave his troubled past behind and build a simpler, more secure life.

Together, the couple embark on a life of crime in pursuit of financial freedom. However, when a seemingly straightforward job goes disastrously wrong, they “find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America,” with no choice but to rely on each other to survive.

All in all, GTA 6 will explore themes of love and survival, loyalty and betrayal, power and corruption, and, ultimately, the pursuit for the American Dream.

What can players expect?

GTA 6 promises a visually ambitious experience and is expected to run at 30 frames per second on current-generation consoles, featuring detailed environments, enhanced lighting, realistic character animations, and a sprawling open world.

At launch, GTA 6 will focus on its single-player storyline, with Rockstar Games yet to announce a release date for a new online multiplayer mode.

Players in Malta will be able to begin exploring Vice City from midnight on 19 November, as long as they have downloaded the game beforehand.

Where and how much?

GTA 6 will be available on PlayStation 5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X/S on launch day.

A PC release date has yet to be announced, while the game will not be available on older-generation consoles, including the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

In Malta, the Standard Edition is priced at €79.99, while the Ultimate Edition, which includes additional exclusive content, costs €99.99.

Both digital editions include pre-order bonuses, including the Vintage Vice City Pack and one month of GTA+ membership.