GTA 6 Pre-Orders Go Live Amid Rising Console Prices in India

The gaming world is buzzing with anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI), set to launch on November 19, 2026. This blockbuster title from Rockstar Games is widely considered a "system seller," expected to drive console purchases worldwide. However, for gamers in India, the excitement is tinged with the reality of increasingly expensive gaming hardware, with both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles seeing price escalations.

Rockstar Games officially opened pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI on June 25, 2026, at midnight local time. The game will be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S platforms, with a PC release expected much later, likely not before November 2027, based on Rockstar's historical release patterns. The Standard Edition of GTA VI is priced at $79.99 (approximately ₹6,700, though India pricing is yet to be confirmed), while an Ultimate Edition will cost $99.99 (approximately ₹8,375). Notably, physical copies of the game will ship with a download code inside the box, rather than a traditional disc. Xbox Price Hike: Microsoft To Increase Costs by Up to USD 150 Globally From August 1; Here Is Why.

Console Price Realities in India

For Indian consumers looking to jump into the world of Leonida with GTA VI, the cost of entry for a new console is steeper than ever. The Sony PlayStation 5 Standard (Disc Edition) is currently available at an official price of ₹54,990. Its Digital Edition variant stands at ₹49,990. While Sony globally raised PS5 prices in March 2026 due to rising memory chip costs, official India prices have reportedly held steady so far. However, imported units of the more powerful PS5 Pro are already circulating at significantly higher prices, ranging between ₹95,990 and ₹1,10,999, as the official India release is still pending due to Wi-Fi 7 regulatory clearance. PlayStation Plus Price Hike: New Subscription Costs Rise From May 20, Existing Subscribers in India To Be Affected.

On the Microsoft front, Xbox Series X|S consoles have seen substantial increases from their launch prices in India. While specific current retail prices for June 2026 are not confirmed, they are expected to be significantly higher than the launch prices of ₹49,990 for the Xbox Series X 1TB (Disc) and ₹34,990 for the Xbox Series S 512GB. The 1TB variant of the Xbox Series S, now a more common option, also reflects these higher market prices.

Impending Xbox Global Price Hikes

Adding to the concern, Microsoft announced on June 25, 2026, that it would be implementing significant global price increases for its Xbox consoles, effective August 1, 2026. This marks the third Xbox price hike since May 2025. The company attributes these increases to a sharp rise in memory and storage component costs, which have reportedly increased by more than 2.5 times and are expected to double again by Fall 2027.

The upcoming global price adjustments are as follows:

Furthermore, Microsoft is discontinuing the 2TB Xbox model. While direct India pricing for these new global increases hasn't been announced, it is highly probable that these changes will eventually reflect in the Indian market, making console ownership even more premium as the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI approaches. To soften the blow, Microsoft is exploring options like financing, buy now/pay later programs, and certified refurbished consoles.

Disclaimer: AI tools assisted in compiling the foundational data and research for this report. The final content was reviewed, edited and verified by human editors at LatestLY.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 26, 2026 06:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).