GTA 6 Pre-Orders Hit an Estimated 6.45 Million: Sensor Tower Says It's 148% Ahead of Modern Warfare 2
Grand Theft Auto VI is still almost four weeks from launch, and the pre-order numbers are already huge. The latest update to analytics firm Sensor Tower's GTA VI sales tracker puts the game at roughly 6.45 million digital pre-orders, worth an estimated $630 million, GameSpot reports. Sensor Tower also says GTA 6 is pacing 148% ahead of 2022's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in US digital pre-orders.
One important caveat before going further: these are third-party estimates. Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive have not published any pre-order figures, and they haven't confirmed Sensor Tower's numbers either.
The headline numbers
Here's what the latest tracker update shows, per TechPowerUp and GameSpot:
- About 6.45 million digital pre-orders, worth around $630 million net of returns
- PlayStation 5: 74%, roughly 4.80 million copies and $468 million
- Xbox Series X|S: 26%, roughly 1.66 million copies and $162 million
- Up from about 6.08 million and $594 million in the October 13 snapshot, so around 370,000 new pre-orders in one week
Do the math and the average pre-order works out to just under $98. That fits with reports that most buyers went for the $99.99 Ultimate Edition instead of the $79.99 Standard Edition. You can compare both in our GTA 6 price, editions and platforms guide.
148% ahead of Modern Warfare 2
The comparison that's getting the most attention comes from a Sensor Tower study first covered by GamesIndustry.biz. It lines up the pre-order curves of the biggest launches of the past six years: Modern Warfare 2, Diablo 4, Hogwarts Legacy and Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
RockstarINTEL notes that the window covers 149 to 45 days before launch. Over that stretch, GTA 6 pulled in 148% more US digital pre-orders than MW2, the strongest performer in the group. MW2 went on to make $800 million in its opening weekend. RockstarINTEL adds that the Ultimate Edition on its own is more than 100% ahead of MW2.
The comparison only counts US digital pre-orders. Boxed copies and other countries aren't included. It's also a comparison of pacing at the same point before launch, not a final sales total.
Why the real number is probably higher
Sensor Tower's data only covers digital storefronts. Physical editions of GTA VI come as a box with a download code rather than a disc, according to Rockstar Support, and those retail pre-orders aren't counted in the tracker. GameSpot adds that Sensor Tower expects most pre-orders to arrive in the final week before launch, with total pre-purchases possibly reaching 25 million.
What's next
- November 12, 2026: digital pre-load opens at local midnight (how pre-load works)
- November 19, 2026: GTA VI launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
- Sensor Tower updates its tracker every week, so expect a new estimate before launch
Until Rockstar or Take-Two shares official figures, treat these numbers as a strong signal of demand rather than confirmed sales.
Sources
- GameSpot — GTA 6 Is 148% Ahead Of This Other Popular AAA Game So Far (Oct 20, 2026)
- RockstarINTEL — GTA 6 Pre-Orders Are 148% More Than Any Other Game (Oct 21, 2026)
- TechPowerUp — GTA 6 Digital Pre-Orders Climb to 6.45 Million, PlayStation Holds 74% Share
- Rockstar Games Customer Support — GTA VI Platforms, Editions, and Versions