GTA 6 has only just opened for pre-orders, but the early reaction already suggests Rockstar’s next release could become one of the biggest entertainment launches of 2026.
According to French retailer CDdiscount, demand for GTA 6 has been far beyond a typical major game release. The retailer reportedly saw pre-order sales reach around six times the level usually seen for major franchises such as Call of Duty and EA Sports FC over a comparable period.
That is a major signal. Call of Duty and EA Sports FC are two of the most reliable blockbuster franchises in gaming, so for GTA 6 to outperform them at this stage shows just how much demand has built up during the long wait for Rockstar’s next mainline Grand Theft Auto title.
The surge was not limited to sales. CDdiscount also reportedly saw traffic across its gaming section jump by around 500% after pre-orders went live. At peak hours, traffic was said to be far higher than the previous night, suggesting that many fans were actively waiting for the moment GTA 6 became available.
Search activity told a similar story. GTA 6 quickly became one of the most searched terms on the retailer’s website, showing that players were not simply browsing new releases. They were specifically looking for Rockstar’s long-awaited sequel.
At the same time, several huge sales claims have been spreading across online communities, including suggestions that GTA 6 may have generated tens of millions of pre-orders and billions of dollars in estimated revenue shortly after opening. However, those figures have not been officially confirmed by Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive. For now, they should be treated as unverified claims rather than official sales data.
Even without confirmed global numbers, the level of interest is not surprising. GTA 5 became one of the most successful entertainment products ever released, generating massive revenue shortly after launch and eventually selling more than 200 million copies worldwide. GTA 6 is not just another sequel. It is the first new mainline Grand Theft Auto game in more than a decade.
That long gap has turned GTA 6 into something bigger than a normal game release. Many fans are treating it as a cultural event, and the wider gaming industry is expected to pay close attention to its launch window.
One interesting detail is that the physical release situation does not appear to be slowing down demand. Reports suggest that GTA 6’s boxed version may not include a traditional disc and may instead come with a download code. While that has disappointed some collectors and physical media fans, the initial pre-order response suggests most players are still ready to buy.
GTA 6 is officially scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. A PC version has not been included in the initial launch lineup.
For now, the biggest question is whether Take-Two Interactive will reveal official pre-order numbers in a future earnings update. If the early retailer data is any indication, GTA 6 may already be on track to break records before it even releases.