GTA 6 Editions: Standard vs Ultimate, Which Should You Buy?
GTA 6 is one of the most expensive game launches ever, so the $20 question between editions is worth answering properly. Here's what each edition actually contains, what the pre-order bonus is, and an honest recommendation.
The confirmed editions
| Standard Edition | Ultimate Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $99.99 |
| The full game | Yes | Yes |
| Extra digital content | Base | Expanded digital extras |
| Pre-order bonus (before Nov 20) | Vintage Vice City Pack, free | Vintage Vice City Pack, free |
The pre-order bonus everyone gets
Pre-order either edition before November 20, 2026 and you get the Vintage Vice City Pack at no extra cost. Since the bonus is identical, the pre-order decision and the edition decision are separate questions.
Our honest take
Most players should buy Standard. Twenty dollars extra for digital extras is a cosmetics tax unless you know you're a day-one everything player. The game itself, all of Leonida, both protagonists, the whole story, is identical in both boxes. If GTA Online's history repeats, your money is better saved for whatever the in-game economy values at launch.
Buy Ultimate only if you want the extras for their own sake and $20 doesn't move you. There is no gameplay you lose by going Standard.
A warning about "physical" copies
The physical release has been controversial: boxed copies are essentially a case with a download code, which caused real backlash when pre-orders opened. If owning a real disc matters to you, know what you're buying today.
Spend smart at launch, too
Our free launch guide covers what's worth your first dollars inside Leonida. Join the list and get it day one.
See every retailer & pre-order →Keep reading
Release date: everything confirmed · The Leonida map explained · How money will work in GTA 6