GTA 6 Editions Compared: Standard vs Ultimate

Twenty dollars is the whole distance between the two GTA 6 editions: $79.99 for Standard, $99.99 for Ultimate. The useful question is what that $20 buys and what it leaves out, because Rockstar has also made it easy to change your mind later.

This page is a buying guide for someone choosing for themselves or a gift. Prices and contents are Rockstar's and Take-Two's, as of Nov. 5, 2026, and a retailer's own listing can differ. For the rating and parental controls, see our parents story. For installing, start with the preload guide.

Easy Mode: Standard or Ultimate

Both editions are the same game for the same two consoles, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and both launch Nov. 19. Rockstar's platform list has nothing else on it.

	Standard	Ultimate
Price	$79.99	$99.99
What it is	The game	The game plus the Ultimate Edition Upgrade
Platforms	PS5, Xbox Series X\|S	PS5, Xbox Series X\|S
In a box	Yes: a download code, no disc, expected from retailers Nov. 12	No physical Ultimate. Buy it digitally, or upgrade a Standard copy
Vintage Vice City Pack	Included with pre-orders and purchases before Nov. 20	Included on the same terms
One month of GTA+ (renews at the regular price unless cancelled)	Digital pre-orders and purchases before Nov. 20	Digital pre-orders and purchases before Nov. 20

1. What Ultimate adds

Rockstar describes the Ultimate Edition as a collection of premium vehicles, weapons, apparel and action threaded across the story, with new items turning up behind each chapter. Its support article names the pieces, and PlayStation's listing for the upgrade explains them: a '95 Grotti Cheetah sports car, a pair of Hawk & Little Morgan revolvers, engraved versions of Jason's and Lucia's pistols, a Ganado pickup build, a classic-car restoration commission, and outfits and tattoos for both characters. Five shops and destinations open only with Ultimate: Rideout Customs, Sara's Unisex Salon, Stock 305, Electric Fang Tattoo and One-Eyed Willie's.

That's a lot of cars and clothes. As far as Rockstar's lists go, the extras are cars, weapons, clothes, five extra destinations and a few side activities, such as a compound raid and a classic-car restoration job, inside the same story. Neither source describes a different campaign.

2. Why Ultimate has no box

A physical copy of GTA 6 is a box with a download code inside and no disc, and it's Standard only. Rockstar's support article states that a physical Ultimate Edition isn't available. If you want Ultimate and you're buying a box, redeem the Standard code and then buy the Ultimate Edition Upgrade from the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store. PlayStation's support page adds that Ultimate upgrades from digital or code-in-box Standard are available only from the PlayStation Store.

The upgrade can be bought at any time once the code is redeemed. It needs the base game, since PlayStation's listing notes that Grand Theft Auto VI is required to use the content. The Microsoft Store lists the upgrade at $20.00; check the PlayStation Store for its price.

The box doesn't shorten the install. You still need the storage and the internet for the download, so the storage guide is worth reading before you shop for a gift.

3. The Vintage Vice City Pack and GTA+

Take-Two's announcement is the source for the deadline. Every GTA 6 pre-order and purchase before Nov. 20, 2026 includes the Vintage Vice City Pack. In practice, that covers buying through launch day, Nov. 19. Rockstar lists what's in it: a '55 Vapid Stanier Sedan with a garage, outfits and hairstyles, and an exclusive weapon pattern. A physical pre-order's code covers the game and the pack.

Digital pre-orders and digital purchases before Nov. 20 carry one month of GTA+ at no extra cost, which renews at the regular price unless cancelled. PlayStation's listing adds that the GTA+ month can be redeemed once per account, however many purchases you make. Our parents story covers that too.

4. Which one

If you're buying for a kid or you want to see how much of the game you'll play before spending more, start with Standard at $79.99. You don't lose the option by waiting, because Standard owners can buy the upgrade at any time. If you already know you'll want the cars, the clothes and the extra shops as the story goes on, buy Ultimate digitally and skip the upgrade step.

The one date to circle is Nov. 19. Buy by then and the Vintage Vice City Pack comes with either edition.

Illustration of a two-column comparison card with a plain game case under Standard and the same case wrapped in a gold ribbon under Ultimate, with a price tag under each and the caption Same game, two shelves.

Still stuck? Find your situation

What you want	Best fit	What to do
A gift in a wrapped box	Standard code-in-box	Buy the box. The recipient redeems the code and downloads the game
Ultimate as a gift	Digital Ultimate	No physical Ultimate exists, so buy it from the console's store
Start cheap, maybe upgrade	Standard	Redeem it, then buy the Ultimate Edition Upgrade from the store later
Just the story, no extras	Standard	The story is the same in both; Ultimate adds cars, clothes, extra destinations and some side activities
Already bought Standard in a box	Redeem, then upgrade	PlayStation: upgrade from the PlayStation Store only

Pro Mode

Pro Mode Pro Mode: Ultimate contents list, GTA+ terms and where the sources disagree

Rockstar's support article lists the Ultimate Edition as the game plus the Ultimate Edition Upgrade, with these named items: '95 Grotti Cheetah, Hawk & Little Morgan Revolvers, Personalized Weapon Variants, Vice City Styles, Jason's Safehouse Vehicles, Ganado Retro Build, Rideout Customs Mod Shop, Sara's Unisex Salon, Shitzu Squalo, Stock 305 Clothing Store, '67 Vapid Dominator Buggy and Garage, Electric Fang Tattoo Parlor, One-Eyed Willie's Mod Shop, Goodtime Gear, PTT Youngin$ Compound and Classic Car Collection.

PlayStation's store listing for the Ultimate Edition Upgrade gives the same set. It describes five destinations as open only to Ultimate owners (Rideout Customs, Sara's Unisex Salon, Stock 305, Electric Fang Tattoo, One-Eyed Willie's) and describes over 50 tattoos in the tattoo shop.

Rockstar's support article lists the Vintage Vice City Pack for digital pre-orders alongside one month of GTA+, and lists only the pack for a physical pre-order's code. It doesn't list the GTA+ month for physical copies. Take-Two's release gives the month to digital pre-orders.

Where the sources disagree: Take-Two's June release still says Nov. 12. Rockstar's editions article (updated Nov. 4) and Pre-Load FAQ now say Nov. 10, as do PlayStation's GTAVI page and PlayStation.Blog. This guide doesn't cover timing; the preload guide does and follows Nov. 10.

The Microsoft Store lists Standard at $79.99, Ultimate at $99.99 and the upgrade at $20.00.

References

All 8 reference links

GTA 6 Standard vs Ultimate: What You Actually Get

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