GTA 6 Ultimate Edition: Is the $20 Premium Worth It?

Rockstar Games’ upcoming title, Grand Theft Auto VI, is poised to become the largest game launch in history. Following a Netflix Extended Look that garnered over 31 million views, Sensor Tower data indicates nearly 5 million digital pre-orders within days of release. However, with the game approaching its November debut, a significant question remains regarding whether the $99.99 Ultimate Edition offers sufficient value over the $79.99 Standard Edition.

The Ultimate Edition commands a $20 premium and has captivated early adopters. Approximately 88.5% of pre-orders on PlayStation and 90% on Xbox are for this tier, a figure Sensor Tower describes as unprecedented for a premium edition. Karl Kontus, SVP and GM of Video Game Insights at Sensor Tower, noted he has never witnessed such high premium share previously, predicting the ratio will likely settle closer to a 50/50 split once casual gamers begin purchasing ahead of the full launch. Take-Two Interactive has not released official figures, though CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged during an August earnings call that pre-orders are skewing toward the premium tier.

Unlike previous releases such as Starfield or Diablo IV, which offered early access to premium buyers, GTA 6 does not provide a head start for Ultimate Edition purchasers. Instead, the additional cost unlocks exclusive in-game content. This includes five new locations—Rideout Customs, Sara’s Unisex Salon, Stock 305 clothing store, One-Eyed Willie’s off-road mod shop, and the Electric Fang Tattoo Parlor, which features designs from the art collective FAILE. Players also gain access to two bonus side missions: the PTT Youngin$ Compound raid and the Classic Car Collection restoration jobs via a fixer named Wyman.

Further exclusives include three vehicles—the ’95 Grotti Cheetah, the Shitzu Squalo jet ski, and the ’67 Vapid Dominator Buggy—along with weapon skins, revolvers, and outfit packs. Rockstar has clarified that these items are not available immediately upon release but are instead threaded throughout the narrative and uncovered behind each chapter. Critics argue that because players can naturally unlock, earn, buy, or steal similar items through regular gameplay, owning these cosmetics on day one holds little long-term value.

Given that Rockstar allows customers to upgrade to the Ultimate Edition for an additional $20 after the game launches, industry observers recommend purchasing the Standard Edition initially. This approach avoids the risk of spending extra on content that may ultimately be unnecessary, while still allowing fans to secure premium bonuses later if they choose.