GTA 6 Sets Circana Record: 29% of US Gamers to Buy

Vice City skyline in GTA 6. Image: Rockstar Games

Grand Theft Auto VI has set a record before it is even out. Circana's PlayerPulse research puts purchase intent for the game at 29% among US console and PC gamers, the highest level the firm has ever recorded for a video game, making it the most anticipated release in Circana's tracking history. The figure comes from Circana's own press release of 28 October, ahead of the game's 19 November launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Key Takeaways

• Circana's PlayerPulse puts GTA 6 purchase intent at 29% among US console and PC gamers — its highest ever reading for a game.
• Analyst Mat Piscatella calls it "a rare cultural and commercial moment", driven by the 13-year wait since GTA V.
• Purchase intent is not sales: it measures what players say they plan to buy, not copies sold.
• Circana expects demand to spill into consoles, accessories and subscriptions, with some players buying a PS5 or Xbox Series specifically for the game.
• Preorder estimates vary by source and date and are unconfirmed by Rockstar and Take-Two — treat them as estimates, not official figures.

What did Circana actually measure?

Circana measured purchase intent, not purchases. Its PlayerPulse tracker surveys US console and PC gamers about what they plan to buy, and 29% said they intend to buy GTA 6 — nearly one in three. That is the highest purchase intent Circana has recorded for any video game, ahead of a launch that sits just before Black Friday and the holiday shopping rush. The distinction matters: intent surveys routinely run ahead of real sales, and Circana's own coverage is explicit that 29% is a statement of intent, not a sales number.

The survey covered console and PC players, but the game itself is confirmed only for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S at launch, priced at $79.99, with a PC edition expected later. That gap is part of the story: some of the intent in the survey comes from PC players who cannot buy the game on day one, which is one reason the 29% should not be converted directly into a sales forecast.

Why does Piscatella call it a rare moment?

Ocean Drive in GTA 6. Image: Rockstar Games

Mat Piscatella, Circana's video games industry analyst, said GTA 6 "represents a rare cultural and commercial moment for the video game industry", pointing to the 13 years players have waited since Grand Theft Auto V. That wait is the engine behind the number: GTA V is itself the best-selling premium video game in Circana's US tracked history by both units and dollar sales, and its successor arrives after more than a decade of anticipation, two trailers, and a launch date that has held through delay speculation.

Piscatella also expects the demand to extend beyond software sales to consoles, accessories and gaming subscriptions as consumers prepare for launch. Many players who have not yet upgraded to a current-generation console may buy a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series specifically to play the game, and with Black Friday approaching, Circana frames GTA 6 as a major driver of fourth-quarter spending on software, console upgrades and gaming tech. Circana projects US video game spending will rise 3% to $62.8 billion in 2026, beating the $61.7 billion record of 2021, with GTA 6 cited as a key driver.

What about preorders?

Vice City in GTA 6. Image: Rockstar Games

Preorder estimates keep moving, and they conflict across sources, so they need dates attached. Sensor Tower put digital preorders at 6.45 million copies worth about $630 million as of 20 October, up from roughly 6.08 million and $594 million a week earlier. Later coverage, including GameSpot's report on the Circana data, cited roughly 7 million units and about $675 million, with Sensor Tower reportedly believing the game could reach 25 million preorders and $2 billion before launch day. None of these figures has been confirmed by Rockstar or Take-Two, so treat every one of them as a third-party estimate.

Forecasts go further and should be labelled as such. One Newzoo model estimates the game could sell up to 51 million units globally by the end of launch week, while Piper Sandler forecast in June that it could move more than 45 million units on launch day alone. Those are models, not measurements, and they sit on top of an intent figure that is itself not a sales count. The honest summary is simpler: anticipation has never measured higher, the launch is 19 November, and the sales records will have to wait for the sales.

FAQ

What is GTA 6's purchase intent?
29% among US console and PC gamers, according to Circana's PlayerPulse — the highest the firm has ever recorded for a video game.

Does 29% mean 29% of gamers will buy it?
No. Purchase intent measures what players say they plan to buy, not actual sales or preorders.

When does GTA 6 launch?
19 November 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, priced at $79.99. No PC version at launch.

How many preorders has GTA 6 sold?
No official figure exists. Sensor Tower estimates range from 6.45 million (as of 20 October) to roughly 7 million in later coverage — all unconfirmed by Rockstar and Take-Two.

Will GTA 6 boost console sales?
Circana expects so: Piscatella says some players may buy a PS5 or Xbox Series specifically to play it, lifting hardware, accessories and subscriptions.

See our GTA 6 release date, price, map and characters hub, the Edge feature on GTA 6's world, and GTA 6 preload details.

Images: Rockstar Games (official GTA 6 screenshots).