The rumors are over — Rockstar has finally named the exact date. What GTA fans have been waiting for thirteen years has finally moved forward, and now we have a specific date on the calendar. The studio also showed off something that has already gone viral online. Here’s when pre-orders open, how much the game will cost, and how to pay from Russia.
The signature comic-style cover art has also arrived
When Will GTA VI Pre-Orders Open on PlayStation and Xbox
Rockstar announced that GTA VI pre-orders will open on June 25 in digital stores and at major retail chains. This means you’ll be able to pre-order the game both on PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store, as well as from retailers selling physical copies.
The release itself remains on the same date — November 19, 2026. The game launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. There will be no PC version at launch; it’s expected later, but Rockstar hasn’t given exact dates. If you were planning to play on PC, you’ll have to be patient.
The pre-order date is listed on the developers’ website
Keep in mind that the release date has been pushed back more than once. Initially, GTA VI was promised for fall 2025, then moved to May 26, 2026, and then to the current November 19. Against this backdrop, the start of pre-orders looks like a signal that this time the dates are final. Under the cover art on Rockstar’s official website, the caption “Pre-order June 25” has already appeared, and the cover art itself can be downloaded in three formats: landscape, square, and portrait.
Along with the announcement, the studio didn’t show any new gameplay or a fresh trailer — just the key art and the date. So the upcoming news will most likely revolve around pricing and editions rather than new footage.
GTA VI Price in Russia and Worldwide: What We Know So Far
Rockstar hasn’t officially announced the price yet, and this is the biggest mystery of the remaining days before pre-orders. But based on rumors and analyst estimates, the picture isn’t great for your wallet.
The current ceiling for a major AAA title is $70, which is roughly 5,500 ₽ at current exchange rates. But there have long been talks about GTA VI being priced higher. Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter predicted as far back as last year a record-breaking $100 for the game, or about 8,000 ₽. A similar figure was suggested by analyst Matthew Ball: in his opinion, GTA VI could become the tipping point after which the entire industry raises prices from $70 to $80.
Store leaks are also adding fuel to the fire. Swiss retailer Brack once accidentally revealed a product listing for the game priced at roughly 9,700 ₽ when converted. And retailer Loaded even showed the standard edition at £89.99, which is approximately $125. Such leaks should be taken with caution, as the base version and expensive bundles often get mixed up. But the general logic is clear.
So my prediction is simple: the base edition will land around $70–80 (roughly 5,500–6,300 ₽), while expanded bundles with bonuses and early access could reach $90–100 (about 7,000–8,000 ₽). If these figures are confirmed, GTA VI will become the most expensive mainstream game of our time. Rockstar has its arguments: the development budget reportedly exceeded one billion dollars, and the studio expects the game to sell exceptionally well regardless. Take-Two expects about $8 billion in revenue from the release in its fiscal year.
How to Top Up PlayStation Store from Russia in 2026
This brings up the question that concerns our readers the most: how to pay when the PlayStation Store and Xbox are unavailable in the Russian region. Russian cards don’t work with foreign accounts, and topping up the wallet directly isn’t possible. The solution is PlayStation Store top-up cards, and you can buy them right in the Sber app without leaving it. Here’s how:
You can top up PSN and more through Sber
- Open Sberbank Online.
- Go to the “Payments” tab.
- Open the “Leisure and Entertainment” section.
- Select “Games.”
- Find the PlayStation Store card for the needed country.
Cards are available for several regions: UAE, Poland, USA, Turkey, and France. The logic is simple: the card must match the region of your PlayStation account. If you have, for example, a Turkish PSN, you get a Turkish card, and the amount is credited to your wallet. Then you pay for the pre-order using the store’s internal funds, and no foreign bank card is needed for that.
This is a convenient method especially for cases like GTA VI, when you need to make it in time for the pre-order launch and don’t have time to deal with workaround payment methods. By the way, using the same approach, you can top up Steam through Sberbank Online if you also game on PC. For Xbox, the process is different, but if you’re on PlayStation, Sber handles everything in just a couple of minutes.
Is It Worth Pre-Ordering GTA VI
Pre-ordering GTA VI is more about guaranteeing you get the game on launch day and possibly snagging bonuses from expanded editions, and not about saving money. There won’t be any discounts at launch for a title like this — the price is actually likely to be record-breaking.
It looks like GTA VI will be one of the most iconic games
I’d advise not rushing in the first hour on June 25 and instead waiting for the official prices and descriptions of what each edition includes. Once it’s clear how the expensive bundle differs from the base version, the decision will be an informed one rather than an emotional one. But if you’re someone who’s been waiting for GTA VI for years and wants to launch it right on November 19, then the pre-order makes sense, and you can buy a top-up card for your region through Sber in advance.
The main thing to remember: the release date has shifted several times already, so as long as your money sits in the PlayStation Store wallet rather than with Rockstar, you’re not risking anything. But keeping an eye on the price announcement on June 25 is definitely worth it, because that number will set the bar for the entire industry for years to come.
