GTA 6 pre-orders far above Take-Two's expectations

GTA 6 pre-orders are far above Take-Two's own expectations. The publisher said so in its fiscal second quarter 2027 results on November 9. GTA 6 launches on November 19.

CEO Strauss Zelnick said pre-orders keep reaching "unprecedented levels". The game files are ready too, and our GTA 6 preload and 212 GB file size story has the details.

What did Take-Two say about GTA 6 pre-orders?

Take-Two did not give a number. In its prepared remarks for investors, the company said pre-orders are "tracking far in excess of our initial expectations" and that "the numbers will speak for themselves soon enough". Zelnick added that, with ten days to go, he expects a historic year.

The publisher also expects strong sales of GTA 6: Ultimate Edition, which includes add-on content. It forecasts recurrent consumer spending at 65% of net bookings this year, with the GTA series doing much of the work.

Take-Two's second quarter at a glance

• Net bookings: $1.60 billion, down 18% year on year
• Guidance: $1.62 to $1.67 billion, so slightly below
• Net revenue: $1.50 billion (down from $1.77 billion)
• Net loss: $54 million (down from $133.9 million)
• Full-year outlook: $8.0 to $8.2 billion in net bookings, unchanged
• October-December outlook: $3.35 to $3.5 billion

Why did NBA 2K27 miss its forecast?

NBA 2K27 is the main reason for the drop. It had the second-best launch in the series' history, but it still fell short of Take-Two's forecast. GamesIndustry.biz's report on the results notes that NBA 2K27 has sold over 4 million units since its September 4 launch. Take-Two called the launch window "unusually busy".

As PC Gamer reports, Zelnick told Bloomberg that GTA 6 hype played a part in the NBA 2K27 result. Some players may simply be saving their money for Vice City. His take: "If your lunch is going to be eaten, I'd rather be the one eating it."

GTA 5 and Borderlands keep climbing

The GTA series beat Take-Two's forecast this quarter. GTA 5 is now close to 235 million units sold. GTA+ membership and in-game spending both grew by double digits. The Borderlands franchise passed 100 million units. On mobile, Toon Blast grew 4% and Words With Friends grew 6%.

Revenue guidance goes up

Take-Two kept its full-year net bookings target. It did nudge up its GAAP net revenue outlook to between $7.98 billion and $8.18 billion, from $7.9 billion to $8.1 billion. The October to December forecast of $3.35 billion to $3.5 billion is almost double the $1.76 billion from the same quarter last year. Most of that jump comes from one game.

GTA 6 launch calendar

What does it mean for players?

These numbers show how big the GTA 6 launch will be. Take-Two expects operating costs to rise about 21% in the third quarter, mostly due to marketing. Expect a loud launch month. Rockstar is already hosting the GTA 6 festival in Miami on November 21.

If you want a closer look first, browse the 38 GTA 6 launch screenshots Rockstar shared. For the studio side of the story, see our report on the Rockstar union vote before launch.

Frequently asked questions

How many GTA 6 pre-orders are there?

Take-Two has not shared a number. It only says pre-orders are tracking far in excess of its initial expectations.

When does GTA 6 come out?

GTA 6 launches on November 19, 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

How much does Take-Two expect to make this quarter?

Take-Two expects net bookings of $3.35 billion to $3.5 billion for the October to December quarter, when GTA 6 launches.

Sources

• Take-Two Interactive: Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal Second Quarter 2027
• Take-Two Interactive: Q2 Fiscal 2027 Prepared Remarks
• GamesIndustry.biz: Take-Two Q2 net bookings fall 18% to $1.6bn as NBA 2K27 misses forecast
• PC Gamer: Take-Two expects to make as much as $3.5 billion during the GTA 6 launch period