Grand Theft Auto 6 fans are pre-ordering the $100 Ultimate Edition more than the standard edition of the game.
In an interview with CNBC, Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of Rockstar's parent company Take-Two Interactive, revealed that people are buying the Ultimate Edition of GTA 6 more than the cheaper standard edition. However, he noted that it may be partially a result of die-hard fans pre-ordering the game right now.
"Actually, it is skewing more to the premium edition," said Zelnick when the interviewer suggested that pre-order numbers may be equal across both editions. "That might be a reflection of the fact that the most avid consumers are the ones who are pre-ordering now."
Zelnick was also asked about holiday discounts, since GTA 6 will release just before Black Friday and Christmas. While he couldn't make any guarantees, as retailers can make their own choices about holiday sales, he noted that GTA 5's pricing stood strong for years. As a result, fans probably shouldn't expect any deep discounts on the game in the foreseeable future.
"We obviously establish our pricing, and storefronts can do what they wish," he said. "We don't have any capability to control that. So if they reduce their price, they reduce their margin on the sale. There are situations where certain retailers will price down to drive demand for other things they will sell. I can't tell you what will happen. I will tell you we preserved our pricing on Grand Theft Auto 5 for a very long time, much longer than a standard release of an entertainment property."
GTA 6's pricing has been a hot-button issue since pre-orders opened in June. The standard edition of the game is $80, $10 more than what other games tend to charge. For those who want everything the game has to offer, they can pay a premium of $100 for the Ultimate Edition, which features exclusive digital content. Zelnick noted to IGN last week that he believes that the pricing of the game reflects its value and went as far as saying that the price is a "bargain," as Rockstar Games is known for overdelivering.
Zelnick also addressed the controversy surrounding the game's lack of an actual disc, noting that a true physical release after launch isn't totally off the table. However, he doesn't see the lack of a disc as something that could damage the game's sales.
Grand Theft Auto 6 will get its first "extended look" later this month on Netflix, followed by a staggered release on YouTube and social media platforms. Zelnick himself has hyped up the release as something fans will want to tune into, but has refused to give even a crumb of details on what it may entail. Some fans are frustrated that the deep dive is being paywalled initially, but as noted, it will be available for everyone on YouTube six hours later on August 27th.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN's news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
