GTA VI Pre-Orders Reach 7.71 Million Ahead of November 19 Launch

Grand Theft Auto 6 is poised to break entertainment sales records when Rockstar Games launches the open-world title on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Market intelligence firm Sensor Tower reported that the game has already sold approximately 7.71 million copies through pre-orders alone, generating an estimated $751 million in revenue ahead of its release.

That pre-order tally puts the upcoming title close to the 8 million total pre-orders amassed by Cyberpunk 2077 prior to its 2020 debut, according to Kotaku. Financial services firm Piper Sandler predicts the game will reach 45 million sales during its launch window. Sony’s PlayStation 5 accounts for 5.74 million of the pre-ordered copies, while Microsoft’s Xbox Series X/S holds 1.97 million, Polygon reported.

Industry figures expect the release to disrupt the entertainment industry. “It’s going to be a watershed moment for not only the gaming industry but also all the folks in the media and entertainment industry who are going to have to deal with the fact that eyeballs are going to be leaving their environments to go play GTA 6,” said Bart Spiegel, global media, entertainment, gaming and sports leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Other entertainment releases scheduled for November are competing in the attention economy against Rockstar’s title. Amazon-MGM is rolling out season three of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Johnny Depp’s film Ebenezer arrives on November 13, and Lionsgate opens The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping the day after GTA 6 launches.

“I think GTA 6 will be the biggest entertainment launch in history,” said Geoff Keighley, gaming industry producer and entrepreneur behind The Game Awards. Spiegel said that streaming services are likely to absorb the largest hit to viewership hours as console players turn to living room displays.

Investment Exposure Through Video Game ETFs

Investors seeking financial exposure to the launch can look toward Take-Two Interactive, the parent firm of Rockstar Games. The thematic Amplify Video Game Leaders ETF offers direct exposure to Take-Two Interactive and 19 other major companies across the gaming value chain, according to ETF Database.

The ETF tracks the VettaFi Video Game Leaders Index using a banded market-weighting approach.

The fund charges a 59 basis point fee and has returned 21.99% over the last three years, outperforming its category average. Take-Two Interactive sits within the bottom tier of index weightings, and its stock performance heading into the fourth quarter leaves room for potential upside if launch sales surpass expectations.

How pre-orders split between PlayStation and Xbox and sales predictions

How are pre-orders split between PlayStation and Xbox consoles?

Sensor Tower estimates that PlayStation 5 users account for roughly 74 percent, or 5.74 million, of the pre-ordered copies, while Xbox Series X/S owners represent 26 percent, or 1.97 million, of total pre-orders.

What are financial analysts predicting for total launch sales?

Financial services firm Piper Sandler forecasts that Grand Theft Auto 6 will reach 45 million total sales during its launch window.

Which entertainment releases open alongside the game in November?

Lionsgate opens The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping the day after the game launches, while Amazon-MGM rolls out episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Johnny Depp’s Ebenezer premieres on November 13.

More on this story: Grand Theft Auto VI has drawn 7.7 million pre-orders worth roughly $751 million, according to · GTA VI Release Details: Pre-orders, PS5 Pro Scarcity, and Massive Download Sizes