Take-Two says GTA 6 preorders are “unprecedented” but will not release exact numbers

Take-Two's Strauss Zelnick recently said GTA 6's preorder numbers are unprecedented in the gaming industry, and that's part of the reason why the company is not revealing actual numbers. Zelnick said in an interview with Bloomberg that GTA 6 preorders "vastly" surpassed internal expectations, but he's unsure "whether they mean anything." "The massive demand for preorders we’ve seen to date could reflect a pull forward of sales that otherwise would materialize in the fullness of time," he said. Zelnick said sharing real, raw data for GTA 6 preorders could mislead investors, so Take-Two is not going to do so. "I’ve reminded people that we simply don’t know the demand curve because it’s just never happened before,” Zelnick said. “Given that, we think the raw numbers could potentially be misleading in a direction we wouldn’t feel good about.” Speaking during Take-Two's recent earnings call, Zelnick said of GTA 6's preorder numbers, "No one’s ever seen anything like this before at Take-Two, or in the industry." He added: “To be clear, we haven’t sold one unit yet. You can cancel a preorder.” GTA 6 releases this November on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Also during the earnings briefing, Take-Two reiterated that GTA 6 is not delayed further. Management also defended GTA 6's $80 price point, saying the game offers “phenomenal value.” GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It's expected to be 2026's biggest game, and it could get another jolt when the next evolution of GTA Online launches.

Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders have had an "exceptional" start, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has said. The executive reffirmed GTA 6's November 19 release date and said the game's launch would usher in a “a new era of growth” for the company.

Take-Two Interactive has unveiled an extraordinary surge in pre-order interest for Grand Theft Auto VI, which became available for pre-order on June twenty-fifth. Analysts on Wall Street are projecting substantial revenue, anticipated shortly after the game's November launch. CEO Strauss Zelnick praised the remarkable initial bookings while urging a cautious financial outlook. The game's long-term success, he noted, will largely depend on the development of its online multiplayer experience.

Take-Two shares climbed after quarterly bookings beat estimates, but investors remain focused on the biggest event in the company’s pipeline, the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier discusses what Take-Two is calling “unprecedented” preorder demand, why expectations for the game are so high, and what to watch for when Rockstar unveils an extended look at GTA VI gameplay ahead of its November release. He joins Ed Ludlow on "Bloomberg Tech." (Source: Bloomberg)

Take-Two Interactive has described the volume of GTA 6 pre-orders as 'unprecedented', as it praises for Rockstar for the game's price. 

Following the launch of GTA 6 preorders in late June, it immediately became apparent that there was, unsurprisingly, huge demand for the game. Now, in a Take-Two earnings call, the publishing company's CEO said the number of preorders is "unprecedented" across the industry. Strauss Zelnick said, "No one's ever seen anything like this before at Take-Two, or in the industry." He went on to add that exceptional preorders don't always equal exceptional sales, though. "To be clear, we haven't sold one unit yet. You can cancel a preorder." While Zelnick declined to comment on sales expectations, he said, "The news is great so far, we're incredibly excited. We couldn't be more excited than we are, and yet we are realistic and, at best, cautiously optimistic. We're going to leave it at that until the thing occurs." He continued, "The level of preorders is unprecedented and astonishing, and we're grateful for that." The claims came after Take-Two affirmed that GTA 6 is not delayed further, and will still be releasing on November 19. The company also believes that its $80 price tag is "phenomenal value."