GTA 6 Preorder Bonuses Explained: What You Get And What You Can Safely Skip

Given that the data about the "Grand Theft Auto 6" pre-orders reveals that nearly half a billion dollars in revenue has already been generated, it's clear that a lot of people have already picked their version and put down the cash for it. But what if you're one of those gamers who is still taking a wait-and-see approach before you commit the not-insignificant amount of money towards your future copy of "GTA 6," or perhaps still don't have a full grasp on what editions are available and what each includes? Either way, we've got your back.

There are technically three separate versions of "GTA 6" that you can pre-order. (Well, six if you consider that each has a PlayStation 5 and an Xbox Series S|X version, but we aren't separating them like that.) There is the "physical" edition that you will actually be able to hold in your hands and will cost you $79.99; the standard digital version that is also $79.99; and the digital-only Ultimate Edition that will set you back $99.99.

The physical and standard digital editions each have things that one includes and the other doesn't, while the Ultimate Edition has everything the standard digital comes with plus a ton more. For a more in-depth description of how all of that shakes out, read on. And hopefully, by the time you're done, we'll have helped you choose the version of "GTA 6" that is worthy of your hard-earned cash. 

While the "GTA 5" collector's edition makes the "GTA 6" Ultimate Edition look sad, you still get a lot for the extra 20 bucks you have to pay over the standard digital edition — even if it consists entirely of digital perks and in-game bonuses without a single piece of physical merch you'll be able to call your own. 

For starters, there is the Vintage Vice City pack, which can only be obtained either by pre-ordering the Ultimate Edition or by nabbing it within 24 hours of the launch of "GTA 6." It includes an exclusive vehicle with its own special garage, a number of outfits for Jason & Lucia, and a special weapon pattern, all heavily '80s-themed as a callback to the original "GTA: Vice City."

Beyond that, anyone who grabs the Ultimate Edition at any time will get access to a number of other exclusives. These include several land and water vehicles; a pair of revolvers; personalized weapon customization swag; a whole line of outfits, hairstyles, and tattoos; vehicle mods; and most crucially, multiple entire businesses — a hair salon, a tattoo parlor, a car mod shop, and several clothing stores — that can only be accessed to those who own the Ultimate Edition. Everyone else will find those buildings to be inaccessible. 

If you pre-order either digital version of "GTA 6" — the Ultimate Edition or the standard edition — you will get a free month of GTA+. That stands as the only real bonus that standard digital owners will get over physical owners. Crucially, the free month isn't only available to new GTA+ subscribers, as is often the case with promotions like this. Even those who currently subscribe to the service can help themselves to the free month.

So what is GTA+, exactly? It started mainly as the companion service for "GTA Online," which not only grants access to the game but gives subscribers a monthly in-game cash deposit and a revolving array of other perks. But over time, Rockstar has continued to add various other bonuses to entice people to subscribe — primarily, adding both "GTA" and non-"GTA" Rockstar games to the service. As of now, those games include PlayStation, Xbox, and PC versions of "Red Dead Redemption," "Grand Theft Auto V," "Grand Theft Auto Trilogy: Definitive Edition," "Bully," and "L.A. Noire," plus mobile versions of "Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories" and "Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars." 

Now, the typical Rockstar fan probably already owns all those games — in some cases, multiple times over. So the real perk of GTA+ for most people will be what it does for "GTA Online." Either way, you'll have a month to try it out for yourself if you pre-order "GTA 6" digitally. Just don't forget to cancel if you don't want to keep it, so you avoid the dreaded auto-renewal.

The physical edition of "GTA 6," such as it is, left fans furious when it was revealed what exactly it was. And that's because it's a "physical edition" insomuch as it has a physical case with cover art that you can indeed physically hold in your hands. Inside, you won't find a disc — instead, just a piece of paper with a download code. 

It's clear that Rockstar only ever really wanted to make "GTA 6" available digitally. The only reason this physical version even exists is probably just to placate retailers, who wanted to have something they could put on a shelf come November to sell to unsuspecting customers who won't know there isn't a disc inside until they bring it home — and returning it won't be an option at that point. As further proof that Rockstar seems to be dissuading people from this version, the company didn't even include the free month of GTA+ in the physical edition. 

Which means there is exactly one perk to owning this version: the case with artwork on it. Maybe in 20 years it'll be worth a few bucks, or maybe you just want to make a small symbolic gesture in defense of the inevitably losing war against games going all-digital someday. So if you're only going to spend 80 bucks on "GTA 6" and don't know which of the two $80 versions to get, it ultimately comes down to whether you want the free month of GTA+ or an empty "GTA 6" case.