Take‑Two Interactive confirmed that the pre‑load for Grand Theft Auto VI is now live worldwide, with the download opening at midnight local time on November 10 for PlayStation 5 and at 12 a.m. GMT on November 9 for Xbox Series X|S. The pre‑load, which can be up to 212 GB, will allow players to start the game at midnight local time on November 19, the scheduled launch date for both consoles. The rollout was moved up by two days from the originally planned November 12 start, according to the company’s earnings call.

Pre‑order demand far exceeds expectations

During its fiscal Q2 2027 earnings call, Take‑Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said pre‑orders for GTA VI are “tracking far above its initial expectations” and are expected to “speak for themselves soon enough.” The company did not disclose an official figure, but Sensor Tower data cited by PlayToEarn estimates roughly 7.71 million digital pre‑orders worldwide as of November 3, representing about $751 million in gross revenue. CFO Lainie Goldstein described the level of pre‑orders as “extraordinary.”

Financial outlook ahead of launch

Take‑Two’s holiday‑quarter forecast reflects the anticipated impact of GTA VI, projecting net bookings of $3.35‑$3.5 billion and GAAP net revenue of $3.27‑$3.42 billion, both substantially higher than the $2.99 billion booked in the preceding six months and nearly double the $1.76 billion recorded in the same quarter a year earlier. Recurrent consumer spending, driven largely by the upcoming GTA VI Ultimate Edition, is expected to grow about 12%. Operating expenses are projected to rise roughly 21% year‑over‑year, primarily due to marketing for the new title. For the full fiscal year ending March 31 2027, Take‑Two kept its net bookings guidance of $8‑$8.2 billion and nudged the lower end of its earnings outlook to $0.57‑$0.75 per share.

What to watch next

Investors will monitor Take‑Two’s post‑launch earnings report to see whether the record pre‑order momentum translates into the projected holiday‑quarter bookings. Analysts are also looking for confirmation on whether a PC version of GTA VI will be announced, as Rockstar has so far only listed console releases. Finally, the performance of the GTA VI Ultimate Edition and any in‑game monetisation strategies will be key indicators for the company’s recurring‑revenue outlook.