‘GTA 6’ Gets a Surprising Sci-Fi Comparison From a Netflix Exec Ahead of Launch

It has been a very long road back to Vice City. ‘Grand Theft Auto V’ has sold more than 230 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling premium game in history. That game arrived in 2013, and its follow-up lands 13 years after the debut of ‘GTA V’.

Over that time, the hype has spilled far beyond traditional gaming circles. With one week to go, people passing Vice City billboards, viewers watching ‘SNL’ sketches, and Hollywood executives who saw Netflix’s “extended look” in August all know the Rockstar Games title is the hottest topic around. Few game launches have ever felt this much like a cultural event.

Now the money side of that anticipation is coming into focus. Newzoo estimates that ‘GTA 6’ could generate $3.25 billion to $5.2 billion in first-week sales across PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, against a reported $1.5 billion budget. That projection arrives just ahead of the Nov. 19 release.

The analytics firm built the range from early pre-order data. Newzoo found that pre-orders generated around $180 million across the US and the five largest European markets in the first week, then estimated the global figure at $260 million. A more conservative model, which assumes unusually front-loaded demand, still places the game at $3.25 billion and around 37 million copies. The high end rests on sales of 51 million copies in that first week.

For perspective, the upper end of the forecast would put launch revenue at nearly 4 times the roughly $1.15 billion ‘GTA V’ made in its first week. Some outlets have raised eyebrows at the scale. One analysis pointed out that 51 million copies against roughly 134 million current-generation consoles would imply an attach rate near 40 percent in a single week. These figures remain predictions rather than confirmed sales.

Then there is the Netflix angle, which gives the story its entertainment-world twist. Netflix’s vice president of nonfiction series, Brandon Riegg, worked with Rockstar Games studio director Jennifer Kolbe to launch the extended trailer, in what he says was not a monetary deal. That makes his read on the game more interesting than the usual executive hype.

Riegg told Variety the game itself is probably the closest thing to full immersion in a video game world. His comparison to a certain sci-fi blockbuster is what grabbed attention: “It’s ‘Ready Player One,’ maybe without the headset.” He went on to describe a game with a narrative and objectives that players can also ignore, choosing instead to text someone, build a relationship or commit crimes.

Netflix has been circling this franchise for a while. Rockstar previously partnered with Netflix in 2023 to bring ‘Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition’ to subscribers through Netflix Games on mobile devices. The streamer then hosted the ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ extended look on Aug. 27, before it was uploaded to YouTube the next day.

The big test comes soon. ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ is coming to Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 on Nov. 19, 2026, with pre-loading slated to begin Nov. 12 for those who pre-ordered. Whether it lands anywhere near Newzoo’s numbers or Riegg’s lofty comparison, the next week should settle the debate quickly.