The hype for Grand Theft Auto VI has reached a fever pitch following reports that major retailer Best Buy accidentally leaked the game’s pre-order date. According to internal affiliate emails, fans may be able to reserve their copies as early as Monday, May 18, 2026.
GTA 6 pre-orders. (Image: ABWaves Game)
The news first surfaced through content creators and affiliates who shared screenshots of a promotional campaign from Best Buy. The email outlines a “GTA 6 Pre-Order (Physical Game)” window running from May 18 to May 21, offering affiliates a 5% commission on successful referrals.
While Rockstar Games has not officially confirmed these dates, the timing is highly strategic for several reasons:
Trailer 3 Speculation: Industry tradition dictates that a major pre-order announcement is almost always accompanied by new footage. This has led to widespread rumors that Trailer 3 could drop this weekend or early Monday morning.
The Take-Two Earnings Call: Publisher Take-Two Interactive is scheduled to report its fiscal year 2026 results on Thursday, May 21. Launching pre-orders just days before the call would allow CEO Strauss Zelnick to share record-breaking early sales figures with investors, potentially acting as a massive catalyst for the company’s stock.
Release Date Confirmation: Rockstar recently “locked in” a launch date of November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Opening pre-orders five months in advance aligns perfectly with the standard marketing timeline for a project of this scale.
Solving the price mystery
If pre-orders do go live on May 18, it will finally settle the ongoing debate regarding the game’s standard retail price.
Rumored Range: While some UK retail leaks suggest a price of £69.99, other rumors and placeholder listings have fluctuated between $70 and $100.
Financial Strategy: Analysts believe that even at a “premium” price point, GTA 6 will sell millions of units on day one, single-handedly driving hardware sales for the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.