This page tracks only what Rockstar and its platform partners have actually confirmed. Leaked material is excluded. Estimates are labelled as estimates. It was last updated after the August 27, 2026 gameplay reveal.
Release and platforms
| Confirmed | |
|---|---|
| Release date | November 19, 2026 |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S |
| PC | Expected later. No date announced |
| PS5 Pro | Listed as PS5 Pro Enhanced on the PlayStation Store. Sony and Rockstar have not detailed what that changes |
| Online | Described as a single-player experience at launch. No online component announced for November 19 |
Price and editions
| Edition | Price | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $79.99 | The full game |
| Ultimate | $99.99 | The full game plus premium vehicles including a '95 Grotti Cheetah, a Shitzu Squalo and a '67 Vapid Dominator Buggy, personalised weapons, exclusive apparel and tattoos, and Ultimate-only shops |
| Physical | Same prices | A download code in a box on both platforms. There is no disc |
- There is no collector's or special edition. Two tiers only.
- Anyone who buys before November 20, 2026 receives the Vintage Vice City Pack — vehicles and outfits inspired by the original Vice City. This applies to pre-orders and launch purchases equally.
- PlayStation Store pre-orders have also included a free month of GTA+.
- Pre-orders opened June 25, 2026 across the Rockstar Store, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store and major retailers.
Which tier to buy is unpacked in Standard vs Ultimate, and the physical situation in the code-in-a-box explainer.
Story and setting
- Set in Leonida, a state containing Vice City, with surrounding bayous, forests and open country
- Two playable protagonists, Jason and Lucia, with the relationship between them at the centre of the story
- The pair do not have to be romantically involved and can be platonic partners
- Character switching was demonstrated running in seconds on a base PS5
- The Extended Look confirmed the first character returning from a previous Grand Theft Auto game
- Political and social satire, but no real-world political figures or events
Scale and structure
- The map is three times the size of Red Dead Redemption 2's
- Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson put his own playthrough at roughly 80 hours, weighted toward the main story
- Chapter-based campaign progression, in the mould of Red Dead Redemption 2
- Open-world encounters connect more naturally into the campaign than in previous entries
Gameplay systems
- Six-star wanted level, restored after GTA 5 capped at five. Police build information from appearance, clothing, vehicle, CCTV and whether Jason and Lucia are recognised as a pair — full breakdown
- Criminal Profile, a persistent tracker weighted by whether violence was warranted, which does not reset like wanted stars — full breakdown
- A Dead Eye-style slow-motion ability
- Dialogue options for de-escalating confrontations
- Older vehicles can be hotwired; newer models require a key cloner
- Racing, jet skis, fanboats, canoes, base jumping and scuba diving among the open-world activities shown
Monetisation
- No microtransactions in the single-player game
- Rockstar states no generative AI was used in development
- No season pass or post-launch content plan has been announced
Why that materially changes the price argument is covered in no microtransactions and the $79.99 context piece.
What is NOT confirmed
Rockstar has not published an install size. Every specific GB figure you have seen online is an estimate, including from otherwise reliable outlets. We will not publish a number until Rockstar does. Plan for a very large install and free space early.
- Install size and day-one patch size
- What PS5 Pro Enhanced actually delivers over a base PS5
- Pre-load date — publishers typically open pre-load one to two weeks ahead, but Rockstar has not announced one
- Any PC release date
- Any online component, its timing, or its monetisation
- Wanted-level escalation thresholds and the full rules governing the Criminal Profile
What to actually buy
- The Standard Edition, before November 20. The bonus pack applies to any purchase before that date, so there is no rush beyond it.
- Console storage, if yours is tight. This is the purchase most likely to cost you a launch night. See what to buy.
- A console, only if you do not have one. Which console to buy covers the current pricing picture.
- Nothing else. There is no collector's edition and no scarcity to hedge against.
For what to play in the meantime, see what to play while you wait and what not to buy.