Grand Theft Auto VI officially set its pre-order launch for June 25 ahead of a November 19 release date, accompanied by the release of its official cover art featuring protagonists Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos.
Video game enthusiasts received their first official look at the cover art for Grand Theft Auto VI, marking a major milestone for the eighth installment in the legendary franchise. The upcoming title stands as the first new release in the series since its predecessor dropped in 2013. Alongside the cover reveal, publisher Rockstar Games confirmed that fans can begin securing pre-orders next week on June 25, setting the stage for the game’s scheduled arrival this fall.
Game Informer Cover Story Features Vice City and Leonida
This month, Game Informer features Grand Theft Auto VI on its cover, recognizing it as the preeminent game of the current year, the decade, and potentially of all time. To uncover fresh, exclusive insights about the highly anticipated sequel—particularly how Rockstar brought Leonida, its Florida-inspired setting, to life—I sat down with several lead designers at Rockstar Games. All things Vice City and Leonida are explored throughout our 14-page cover feature, which includes exclusive interview quotes and details. Drawing on my background as a lifelong South Florida native, I bring a personal perspective to my discussions with Rockstar about previously unrevealed elements: these include Grand Theft Auto VI’s sophisticated weather systems that replicate Florida’s gloomier meteorological events, the immense variety of local and exotic wildlife inhabiting Leonida across land, air, and sea, and the exhaustive research Rockstar conducted on Miami and Florida to build the most aesthetically and culturally authentic, lifelike game world yet. Anyone curious about the true “Florida” spirit driving GTAVI will not want to pass up this feature. Accompanying the cover story are 12 brand-new, exclusive screenshots highlighting additional views of Grand Theft Auto VI’s environments and inhabitants.
Leonida Setting, Advanced Weather Systems, and Wildlife Detail
Cultural and Aesthetic Accuracy in Miami and the Surrounding Region
The latest entry takes players to Leonida, a sprawling fictional parody of Florida centered around Vice City. According to exclusive reporting from Game Informer’s cover story, developers spent extensive time researching Miami and Florida to ensure cultural and aesthetic accuracy. The setting features complex weather simulations designed to mimic Florida’s less sunny weather phenomena, alongside vast populations of native and exotic wildlife roaming across land, air, and marine environments.
Development Timeline and Financial Projections
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick Addressed the Extended Development Window
The path to the November 19 release date has spanned multiple years, facing two prior delays during its production cycle. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick addressed the extended development window during an appearance on TikTok’s The School of Hard Knocks, emphasizing the scale of the project and confirming that GTA VI is still on track for a Nov. 19 release.
The team at Rockstar really does seek to do something that's never been done before. That's really hard, and it takes a long time,
he said (h/t Eddie Makuch of GameSpot.com).
Industry analysts project massive commercial performance upon debut. Konvoy’s Josh Chapman predicted that GTA VI will shift 25 million units on the very first day it launches. He added that Take-Two will likely break even on its $2 billion investment into the game.
Pre-Order Availability and Launch Schedule
Game Informer Cover Feature Digital Versions Available to Read on September 29
The 14-page Game Informer cover feature will be delivered to both print and digital subscribers soon, with the digital edition ready for readers on September 29, while the physical copies will arrive in subscriber mailboxes and bookstores or newsstands over the coming weeks. Meanwhile, prospective buyers must mark their calendars for next week’s pre-order launch on June 25, leading directly into the global rollout on November 19.