GTA 6 Breaks Industry Record as Nearly 1 in 3 US Gamers Plan to Buy It
GTA 6 has recorded the highest purchase intent in Circana's tracking history, with 29% of US console and PC gamers planning to buy Rockstar's upcoming game.
Grand Theft Auto VI has officially become the most anticipated video game in Circana's tracking history, with a new report revealing that almost one in three US console and PC gamers intend to purchase Rockstar Games' upcoming blockbuster.
According to a new report published on October 28, 2026, by market research company Circana, GTA 6 currently holds a remarkable 29% purchase intent among US console and PC gamers, the highest figure the company has ever recorded for a video game.
With the game's release scheduled for November 19, Circana expects GTA 6 to become one of the largest entertainment launches in history, potentially driving significant increases in console sales, accessories and gaming subscriptions throughout the holiday shopping season.
GTA 6 Sets a New Industry Record
The figures come from Circana's PlayerPulse research, which tracks consumer interest and purchasing intentions across the video game industry.
The 29% figure represents the proportion of US console and PC gamers who currently intend to purchase GTA 6, rather than confirmed pre-orders or actual sales. Nevertheless, Circana says it is the highest purchase intent ever recorded for a video game in its tracking history.
Mat Piscatella, a video games industry analyst at Circana who regularly provides analysis of US video game sales and consumer spending, believes the launch represents an extraordinary moment for the industry.
"Grand Theft Auto VI represents a rare cultural and commercial moment for the video game industry. Players have been waiting 13 years for a sequel to Grand Theft Auto V, and demand is expected to extend beyond software sales to include consoles, accessories, and gaming subscriptions as consumers prepare for launch."
Piscatella's comments highlight how the release could benefit the wider gaming industry, rather than Rockstar Games and its parent company Take-Two Interactive alone.
With 13 years having passed since the original release of GTA V in September 2013, anticipation for the sequel could translate into substantial spending on gaming hardware and related products.
GTA 6 Could Drive PlayStation 5 and Xbox Console Sales
Beyond the record-breaking interest in the game itself, Circana believes GTA 6 could encourage players who have not yet upgraded to the current generation of consoles to finally make the move.
“Many consumers who have yet to upgrade to a current-generation console may choose to purchase a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series specifically to play the title.”
With GTA 6 launching on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, players still using older consoles will need to upgrade if they want to experience the game at launch.
The timing is particularly significant, with GTA 6 arriving just ahead of the Black Friday shopping period and the wider holiday season. Circana expects the release to influence consumer spending across the gaming industry during the final quarter of 2026.
GTA V's Extraordinary Sales Record
Circana also highlighted the remarkable commercial success of Grand Theft Auto V, which continues to demonstrate the enduring popularity of Rockstar's franchise more than a decade after its original release.
According to the company's historical US sales data, GTA V remains the best-selling premium video game in Circana's tracked history, both in terms of the number of copies sold and total dollar sales.
The report also reveals two particularly impressive achievements:
- 13 consecutive years in the top 20: GTA V appeared among the 20 best-selling video games in the United States every year from 2013 through 2025.
- Third most active game in 2025: Despite entering its 13th calendar year on the market, GTA V ranked third for total active users across the PlayStation and Xbox ecosystems in 2025.
These figures demonstrate how GTA V has maintained an unusually large and active audience long after its initial launch, providing a strong foundation for the upcoming sequel.
It's worth noting that Circana's historical sales rankings relate specifically to its tracked US market, rather than worldwide sales.
A Major Boost for the Gaming Industry
With GTA 6 arriving during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, Piscatella expects its impact to be felt across multiple areas of the gaming and consumer technology industries.
“As retailers prepare for Black Friday and holiday season demand, Grand Theft Auto VI will be a major driver of software sales, hardware upgrades, and gaming-related tech purchases throughout the fourth quarter. It’s anticipation and popularity reinforces the growing influence of video games on the broader entertainment and consumer technology markets.”
His assessment suggests that GTA 6 could become a major contributor to holiday spending, encouraging purchases of everything from new consoles to accessories and subscriptions.
Although the 29% purchase intent figure does not guarantee that every interested player will ultimately buy the game, it provides a striking indication of the level of anticipation surrounding Rockstar's next release.
With just over three weeks remaining until GTA 6's scheduled November 19 launch, the game is already setting records before reaching players' hands.