Now that GTA 6 pre-orders are live and the price is finally official, the question has shifted. It is no longer “how much” but “which one”. Two editions, a twenty pound gap, and Rockstar being deliberately vague about whether the Ultimate is actually worth it. So let me do what I always do here and cut through it. Here is exactly what is in each edition, what that extra twenty really buys, and the honest answer on which one to click.
The quick version
If you just want the answer and not the homework: buy the Standard Edition. For almost everyone, that is the right call. The Ultimate is not a trap and it is not a rip-off, but everything it adds sits on top of the game rather than inside it, and you are paying twenty quid for cosmetics and conveniences before you have played a single mission. If money is genuinely no object and you want the maximum launch-day kit, the Ultimate is there for you. For the rest of us, Standard is the smart buy. Now here is the detail behind that.
What you get in both editions
Whichever you pick, the foundation is identical: the full game, and the Vintage Vice City pre-order pack for ordering ahead of launch. That pack is a classic ‘55 Vapid Stanier, vintage outfits for Jason and Lucia, and a retro weapon finish. Order digitally and you also get one free month of GTA+ on top. So the pre-order bonus is not an Ultimate exclusive. You get it on Standard too. Do not let anyone tell you that you need the pricier edition to get the early-bird goodies.
What the Ultimate Edition adds
Here is the full picture of what your extra twenty buys, because Rockstar has actually confirmed it this time. The Ultimate stacks a sizeable pile of in-game content on top of the Standard:
- Vehicles: a ‘95 Grotti Cheetah, a ‘67 Vapid Dominator buggy, a Shitzu Squalo, a Dinka Enduro motorcycle and a Crest kayak.
- Weapons: the Hawk and Little Morgan revolvers, plus personalised Girardi ES9 and Klose K17 pistols.
- Style: a Vice City Style pack of outfits and tattoos, and a Goodtime Gear cosmetics pack.
- Customisation: a Ganada Retro Build vehicle modkit, and immediate access to five shops including Rideout Customs, Sara’s Unisex Salon and Electric Fang Tattoo.
- Content: an exclusive side mission tied to the PTT Youngin$ illegal goods store, and a special Classic Car Collection commission.
It is a genuinely long list, and on paper it looks generous. The catch is the nature of all of it.
The honest read on that list
Look at everything above again and ask one question: does any of it change the game? It does not. Every single item is a cosmetic, a head-start vehicle, or a convenience like having a couple of shops unlocked a few hours earlier than you otherwise would. The one thing that comes closest to real content, the exclusive side mission, is a single optional extra in a game that is going to be absolutely enormous.
None of this is a knock on Rockstar. This is exactly how deluxe editions work, and at least the price is fair and the contents are clearly listed rather than hidden behind a “season pass” question mark. But you should buy it knowing what it is: a vanity bundle, not an expansion. If you are the kind of player who loves jumping in with a garage already half-full and a wardrobe already stocked, you will enjoy it. If you would rather earn that stuff in the world, which for a game like this is half the fun, you are not missing anything by skipping it.
So, who should buy the Ultimate?
Be honest with yourself about which of these you are. Buy the Ultimate if you want the most stuff on day one, you like starting with toys rather than grinding for them, and twenty pounds on top is a rounding error to you. Buy the Standard if you would rather pay for the game and discover the world’s vehicles, weapons and shops the way they were designed to be discovered, which is by playing.
For me, it is Standard every time. The joy of a new Rockstar open world is the slow reveal, stumbling on your first great car, saving up for the gun you want, finding the shops yourself. Starting with all of that handed to you slightly undercuts the thing I am actually buying the game for. But you know how you play, and now you know exactly what is in each box, so the choice is properly yours.
Whichever you pick, the date is the same: 19 November 2026 on PS5, PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X and S. For the full rundown of the price reveal and the pre-order details, I covered it in GTA 6 price confirmed. If you are filling the wait, I built a proper list in what to play before GTA 6, and the deeper story-side breakdown is in everything we know about GTA 6 single player. You can watch the countdown tick over on the GTA 6 hub.
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FAQ
How much does GTA 6 cost?
The Standard Edition is 79.99 and the Ultimate Edition is 99.99. Those are the only two editions Rockstar has confirmed. There is no separate Collector's Edition with a physical statue or steelbook, so the most you can spend on the game itself is the 99.99 Ultimate.
What is the difference between Standard and Ultimate?
Standard is the full game plus the Vintage Vice City pre-order pack. Ultimate is everything in Standard plus a large bundle of in-game extras: additional vehicles, exclusive weapons, an outfit and tattoo pack, a vehicle modkit, several shops unlocked from the start, an exclusive side mission and a special car-collection commission. Crucially, none of the Ultimate content changes the core game, it is all cosmetics and convenience.
Is the GTA 6 Ultimate Edition worth it?
Only if you specifically want the fullest possible launch-day loadout and the extra twenty does not bother you. Everything the Ultimate adds is a cosmetic or a convenience layered on top of a story you have not played yet. It does not make the game better, longer or easier in any meaningful way. For the vast majority of players, Standard is the sensible buy.
What is the GTA 6 pre-order bonus?
Pre-ordering either edition gets you the Vintage Vice City Pack: a classic '55 Vapid Stanier, vintage outfits for Jason and Lucia, and a retro weapon finish. Pre-order digitally and Rockstar also throws in one free month of GTA+. The bonus is shared across both editions, so you do not need the Ultimate to get it.
When does GTA 6 release and on what platforms?
GTA 6 launches on Thursday 19 November 2026 for PS5, PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X and S. There is no PC version at launch and no confirmed PC date, so console is the only way to play it this year, as is tradition with a new Rockstar game.
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