Rockstar's past patterns with GTA 5 suggest that waiting for GTA 6's PC release might save players from paying extra for access to special shops.
Rockstar Games has confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch on November 19, 2026, and while the game is skipping PC at launch, the studio has already begun teasing its monetization strategy. Based on historical patterns with GTA 5, waiting for the PC version of GTA 6 might save players from paying an extra $20 to access certain in-game shops.
What Happened: Rockstar’s Pricing and Edition Strategy for GTA 6
Rockstar has announced the standard edition of GTA 6 will cost $80, with the more expensive Ultimate Edition priced at $100. The latter includes access to five exclusive shops, such as the Electric Fang tattoo shop and One-eyed Willie’s car mod shop. However, Rockstar has not confirmed whether these shops will be available to PC players at launch or if they will require an additional purchase.
This uncertainty has led to speculation among players and analysts, particularly those who have studied Rockstar’s past bundling strategies. The key question is whether Rockstar will follow the same pattern it used with GTA 5, where many Ultimate Edition extras were eventually included in the PC version.
Confirmed vs. Speculative: What We Know and What We Don’t
What is confirmed is that GTA 6 will not be available on PC at launch and will instead arrive at a later date. The five shops tied to the Ultimate Edition are currently exclusive to that version, but Rockstar has not stated whether they will remain exclusive to PC players or be made available to all after the PC release.
What is speculative is whether Rockstar will bundle these shops into the PC version at launch, as it did with GTA 5. In 2015, the PC version of GTA 5 included many of the extras from the 2013 Ultimate Edition, including bonus cars, weapons, and shops. This strategy was used to entice players to buy the enhanced version a second time.
