On this page
Buy the Standard Edition ($79.99) unless you already know you want the Ultimate extras. Rockstar says the $20 Ultimate Edition Upgrade can be bought at any time, and it brings you to the same $99.99 total, so waiting costs nothing.
Buy the Standard Edition unless you already know you want the Ultimate extras. Rockstar says the $20 Ultimate Edition Upgrade (£20 UK, AU$30 Australia) can be bought at any time, and it costs exactly the difference, so choosing Standard now costs you nothing later. It is on pre-order on Xbox; the PlayStation listing showed no price yet on September 26. The one catch: if you want a box on the shelf, Standard is the only edition sold physically.
Every item in both editions, side by side, is on the GTA 6 editions page. This page is the verdict.
Standard vs Ultimate at a glance
| Standard Edition | Ultimate Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (US / UK) | $79.99 / £69.99 | $99.99 / £89.99 |
| Physical box | Yes, a download code | No, digital only |
| Vintage Vice City Pack (before Nov 20) | Yes | Yes |
| Free GTA+ month (digital pre-orders) | Yes | Yes |
| Early access | No | No |
| Ultimate items | Add them later for $20 | Included |
What the extra $20 buys
Rockstar lists 16 Ultimate items. They include the ‘95 Grotti Cheetah, a Shitzu Squalo boat with an explosives crate and a ‘67 Vapid Dominator Buggy. You also get engraved versions of Jason’s and Lucia’s pistols, a pair of Hawk & Little Morgan revolvers, and extra outfits and tattoos. Five shops only open for Ultimate owners: Rideout Customs, Sara’s Unisex Salon, Stock 305, Electric Fang Tattoo and One-Eyed Willie’s. There are also two extra activities: a raid on the PTT Youngin$ compound and a car-restoration commission from a fixer named Wyman.
Rockstar says new items appear behind each chapter of the story, so expect them to arrive as you progress, not all at once. The full list with each item’s description is at every Ultimate Edition item.
Which one to buy
You want something specific on that list. Buy Ultimate now. It costs the same as upgrading later, and you never have to think about it again.
You are undecided. Buy Standard, play the first few chapters, and buy the $20 upgrade if you want more cars and shops. See how to upgrade to Ultimate.
You want the box, or a retailer deal. Buy Standard, because it is the only edition sold physically. Redeem the code and add the upgrade later if you like. Compare the two in physical vs digital. Amazon’s boxed copy, for example, is that Standard code: Amazon charges when it ships, and Amazon’s Pre-order Price Guarantee applies (Amazon’s terms; Amazon lists November 12 as the box’s release date). Its PS5 code only works on US and Canadian PlayStation accounts. See GTA 6 on Amazon.
It is a gift. A boxed copy will always be Standard. For Ultimate, you need to buy it digitally for the recipient’s platform. Our guide to buying GTA 6 as a gift covers both routes.
You are on a budget. Standard gets the same Vintage Vice City Pack before November 20, and digital Standard gets the same free GTA+ month.
Pre-order the boxed GTA VI
Amazon sells the boxed Standard Edition: a download code in the box, no disc. Amazon delivers from November 12, the day pre-load opens, and standard delivery can arrive later, so check the date at checkout. The game unlocks November 19.
PS5GTA VI · PS5Standard Edition: a download code in the box, no disc, for US and Canadian PlayStation accounts. Amazon delivers from November 12, with release-day delivery for Prime members; it unlocks November 19.Pre-order on AmazonXbox Series X|SGTA VI · XboxStandard Edition: a download code in the box, no disc. Amazon delivers from November 12, with release-day delivery for Prime members; it unlocks November 19.Pre-order on AmazonPS5GTA VI DualSenseSony's official Grand Theft Auto VI Limited Edition controller in white, out November 19.Pre-order on AmazonAmazon's Pre-order Price Guarantee: "the price we charge when we ship it to you will be the lowest price offered by Amazon.com between the time you placed your order and the end of the day of the release date." Amazon's help page adds that it "does not apply to lower prices offered through any program that requires a customer to join the program to receive the lower price." Amazon's release date for the GTA VI boxes is November 12.
Amazon's listing offers Prime members release-day delivery on November 12. New members can start a 30-day free trial (Amazon, checked September 28); a trial started before mid-October runs out before November 12, so start it later or keep the membership. Try Prime on AmazonPaid link: Amazon pays GTA6.how a fee if you sign up. As an Amazon Associate, GTA6.how earns from qualifying purchases.
Paid links. As an Amazon Associate, GTA6.how earns from qualifying purchases. Prices, delivery dates and availability are set by Amazon and can change. How we choose products.
Things people get wrong
- “Ultimate gets early access.” It does not. Both editions unlock on November 19, 2026; see GTA 6 early access and the GTA 6 release date.
- “The pre-order bonus is Ultimate-only.” The Vintage Vice City Pack comes with any edition bought before November 20.
- “There is a physical Ultimate Edition.” Rockstar says there is not.
- “The Collector’s Edition includes the game.” It does not. Rockstar’s $399.99 Collector’s Box, The Goodtime State - Vice City Collection, is 11 pieces of merchandise, and the Rockstar Store says “Grand Theft Auto VI game sold separately”; see is there a GTA 6 Collector’s Edition. Sony’s $84.99 Limited Edition DualSense is a controller, not an edition either; see GTA 6 controllers.
- “I own Standard, so I should buy Ultimate.” No. Buy the $20 upgrade, not a second $99.99 copy.
What to do next
Decide, then pre-order before November 20 for the bonus pack. Either way, clear space for the November 12 pre-load. Regional prices are on the GTA 6 price page, with the GTA 6 price in the UK, Europe and Japan for both editions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between GTA 6 Standard and Ultimate Edition?
Both contain the full game. Ultimate adds 16 items Rockstar lists, including extra vehicles, weapons, clothing, five shops and two side activities, for $20 more. The items unlock chapter by chapter through the story.
Is the GTA 6 Ultimate Edition worth it?
If you already want the extra cars, shops and the gang compound raid, yes. If you are not sure, buy Standard. The $20 Ultimate Edition Upgrade can be bought at any time for the same total.
Does Ultimate Edition give early access to GTA 6?
No. Both editions unlock on November 19, 2026. Every early-access claim is checked on can you play GTA 6 early.
Can I buy the Ultimate Edition as a physical copy?
No. Rockstar Support says a physical Ultimate Edition is not available. The boxed version is Standard, and its owners can buy the $20 upgrade after redeeming the code.
Is there a GTA 6 Collector's Edition or Deluxe Edition?
Not as a game edition. The game comes as Standard or Ultimate, and there is no Deluxe. Rockstar's $399.99 Collector's Box, the Vice City Collection, is 11 pieces of merchandise with no game inside, so you still need one of the two editions. Sony's $84.99 Limited Edition DualSense is a controller, not an edition.
What changed on this page
- Added what a boxed Standard copy from Amazon means for the edition choice: Amazon's Pre-order Price Guarantee applies until its November 12 release date (Amazon's terms), and its PS5 code works only on US and Canadian accounts.
- Corrected the Collector's Edition lines: Rockstar now sells a $399.99 Collector's Box, but it is merchandise with no game inside, so the game editions are still Standard and Ultimate. Also noted that the PlayStation upgrade listing shows no price yet, and linked our page on early-access claims.
- Rewrote the page as a verdict, switched to Rockstar's official Ultimate item list, and noted that the Ultimate Edition is digital only. Added the upgrade's UK and Australian prices.
More buying guides
How to Pre-Order or Buy GTA 6 on PS5, Xbox and at Retail
Pre-order or buy GTA 6 for $79.99 or $99.99 on PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store or at retail. Click-by-click steps and the November 19 bonus deadline.
How to Upgrade GTA 6 From Standard to Ultimate Edition ($20)
GTA 6's Ultimate Edition Upgrade is $20 on the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store, any time. Where to find it, and what to do if it says not available.
GTA 6 Physical vs Digital: Which Should You Buy?
GTA 6's physical edition is a Standard Edition code in a box, with no disc and no GTA+ month. When the box still makes sense, and when to go digital.
How to Refund GTA 6 or Cancel a Pre-Order (PS5, Xbox and Retail)
How to refund GTA 6: cancel a PS5 pre-order before the download starts, an Xbox one up to 10 days before launch, and what each store refunds after launch.