Nearly 30% of US Gamers Plan to Buy GTA 6 — New Survey
Note: This article covers survey data from Circana's PlayerPulse research. Rockstar has not commented on the findings.
Anyone who has searched "GTA 6 sales" in recent weeks has mostly found speculation — leaked estimates, analyst projections, and back-of-the-envelope forum math. There is now hard survey data to work with instead, and it comes from a firm that tracks this market year-round. According to new research from Circana PlayerPulse, nearly 30% of US console and PC gamers say they intend to purchase Grand Theft Auto VI, which would make it the highest purchase intent rate recorded for any game in the industry's history.
If you're catching up on everything Rockstar has revealed lately, we covered every image in its latest drop, theme by theme, in 12 new screenshots revealed.
What the Data Shows
The survey puts GTA 6 purchase intent at 29% among US console and PC gamers — a figure Circana identifies as the highest it has ever recorded for a single title. Mat Piscatella, Circana's video game industry analyst, described GTA VI as a "rare milestone" for the industry, and the reasoning behind the label is straightforward. He noted that 13 years of waiting for a new GTA game is a gap rarely seen in gaming, and that an unusually long stretch between entries gives demand time to compound in a way shorter release cycles never allow. One caveat is worth keeping in view: purchase intent measures what players say they plan to do, not confirmed sales, so the 29% should be read as a demand signal rather than a guaranteed tally — though demand signals at this scale are rare in themselves.
Why the Timing Matters
The November 19 launch lands directly ahead of the holiday season, which extends the game's expected impact well beyond its own sales figures. According to the research, GTA VI is positioned to lift spending across the wider ecosystem — consoles, accessories, and online subscriptions — in addition to its own receipts, a halo effect that retailers and platform holders will be watching closely. Piscatella noted that many consumers who have not yet upgraded to a current-generation console may buy a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series console specifically to play the game, making it a potential hardware driver as much as a software one. So while "how many will buy GTA 6" is the question driving search traffic right now, the more consequential number for the industry may be how much total holiday spending the release pulls along with it.
The GTA V Effect
A large share of that recorded intent traces back to the remarkable longevity of the previous entry, which has kept the franchise in front of players for more than a decade. GTA V, released in 2013, has remained among the top 20 best-selling games in the US for 13 consecutive years — a run with no real parallel among premium-priced titles. It also ranked third in total active users across the PlayStation and Xbox ecosystems in 2025, a striking result for a 12-year-old game and a clear marker of how much play it still receives. The practical implication is that the audience behind the survey's 29% is not a projection: it is a large, demonstrably active player base that has stayed engaged with the franchise through the entire wait for a sequel.
What This Means
If the survey proves accurate, GTA VI is on track to be not just the biggest game launch in history, but one of the biggest entertainment launches of any kind, in any medium. The pre-order numbers already support that forecast: 6.45 million copies and $630 million in pre-order revenue — totals that most games never reach across their entire life cycle, let alone before launch day. Whether final figures land at, above, or below the survey's implied demand, this November will give the industry its clearest reading yet of just how much pent-up demand a single title can carry.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of gamers plan to buy GTA 6?
29% of US console and PC gamers, according to Circana's PlayerPulse research.
Is this the highest purchase intent in gaming history?
Yes — according to Circana's Mat Piscatella, it's the highest rate recorded for any game.
Will GTA 6 boost console sales?
Analysts expect it to. Many consumers who haven't upgraded to a current-gen console may buy one specifically to play GTA VI.
How long has GTA V been in the top 20 best-selling games?
13 consecutive years, from 2013 to 2025.
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