Grand Theft Auto 6: Standard Edition Vs Ultimate Edition

Long wait’s nearly over, so just keep holding on tight. The release date isn’t going to change again, and that gives me peace. We’re all set for November 19, 2026. Mind you, pre-orders already went live on June 25, 2026. So, if you haven’t ordered yet, I don’t know what you’re waiting for. If it’s skepticism about whether GTA 6 is worth it, I’ll tell you one thing: Grand Theft Auto 6 has been winning the most anticipated game at The Game Awards for several years now. That should mean something, in addition to the trailer showcasing some of the most open-world realism the series has ever had.

Convinced, yet? Right. Let’s get down to deciding between pre-ordering the Standard or the Ultimate Edition. I’ll say those are two tough choices there because of the price difference, but also because the Ultimate Edition actually does deliver valuable in-game items that will make a difference in unraveling Jason and Lucia’s story. I’m taking an exclusive car collection, mod shops, clothing stores, tattoo parlors, weapons, and so much more. Here’s a more detailed comparison of Grand Theft Auto 6: Standard Edition Vs Ultimate Edition.

What is Grand Theft Auto 6: Standard Edition?

Grand Theft Auto 6 is an upcoming single-player action-adventure set in Vice City. It’s a long-awaited open-world sandbox releasing on November 19, 2026, on the current-gen PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S platforms. However, you can pre-order the game as early as now. For pre-orders, you can choose between the Standard Edition and Ultimate Edition.

The Grand Theft Auto 6: Standard Edition is the most basic package that you can pre-order if you want your own personal copy of the upcoming GTA 6 game. The Standard version often offers the base game, which includes the single-player game modes and multiplayer ones, if any. In GTA 6’s case, you’ll be getting the base game, which includes:

• The single-player mode, which is the story campaign in full, and 
• Access to the online modes.  

What is Grand Theft Auto 6: Ultimate Edition?

On the other hand, the Grand Theft Auto 6: Ultimate Edition offers the base game, which means all of the single-player content and online modes available via the Standard Edition. In addition to the basic package, though, you’ll also enjoy access to an exclusive collection of in-game items, including cars, weapons, and more. More accurately, the Ultimate Edition will offer the following:

• GTA 6 base game (single-player and online modes)
• Exclusive in-game items:
  • Shitzu Squalo
  • Goodtime Gear
  • Vice City Styles
  • ’95 Grotti Cheetah
  • Ganado Retro Build
  • Sara’s Unisex Salon
  • Classic Car Collection
  • Stock 305 Clothing Store
  • Electric Fang Tattoo Parlor
  • PTT Youngin$ Compound
  • One-Eyed Willie’s Mod Shop
  • Jason’s Safehouse Vehicles
  • Rideout Customs Mod Shop
  • Personalized Weapon Variants
  • Hawk & Little Morgan Revolvers
  • ’67 Vapid Dominator Buggy and Garage

These items are not only cosmetic but can actually make a difference in how fast you advance through the story campaign and online modes. They give you a head start above Standard Edition players, experiencing Vice City with more style and gameplay options.

How to Pre-Order

On June 25, 2026, at Midnight Local Time, the pre-orders for GTA 6 went live. Anyone from around the world can, thus, pre-order the game by visiting rockstargames.com/VI. These pre-orders let you choose between the Standard and Ultimate Edition. 

Please also note that the pre-orders only have the digital version of the game. If you want the physical copy of GTA 6, you’ll need to wait until November 12, 2026, to pre-order.

Pre-Order Bonuses

You may be asking yourself why pre-order a game when you can wait until launch day? Well, pre-ordering a game often includes bonuses, regardless of the edition. In GTA 6’s case, if you pre-order the game from June 25, 2026, at Midnight Local Time to any time before November 20, 2026, you’ll get the Vintage Vice City Pack pre-order bonus. This is an awesome collection of in-game items from previous games based on the neon-lit Vice City. More specifically, they include:

• Outfits and Hairstyles
• Exclusive Weapon Pattern
•  ’55 Vapid Stanier Sedan and Garage

In addition to the Vintage Vice City Pack, Rockstar Games is offering one month of GTA+ membership to those who pre-order GTA 6.

So many people have already pre-ordered GTA 6. If you have a pre-order version of GTA 6, you can pre-load the game as early as November 12, 2026. This is to confirm that the game is playable ahead of launch day. The same goes for those who opt for the physical version available on the same day.

Verdict: Grand Theft Auto 6: Standard Edition Vs Ultimate Edition

Hands-down, the Grand Theft Auto 6 Ultimate Edition is better than the Standard Edition. The exclusive in-game items you stand to gain are simply too enticing to ignore. I love how the items are not only cosmetic but can actually impact your progression. According to Rockstar Games, the Ultimate Edition items will unlock across every chapter of Jason and Lucia’s story. For that reason, I’d say buying the Ultimate Edition is the better choice, but only if you can afford it.

The Standard Edition is going for $79.99, which is pretty high in itself when Triple-A games usually go for $69.99. Meanwhile, the Ultimate Edition is going for $99.99. Is $20 more worth it for the exclusive in-game items on offer? I’m personally hyped for the ‘95 Grotti Cheetah, which harkens to GTA’s retro-futuristic identity, and the Hawk & Little Morgan Revolvers for both Jason and Lucia, which have a high-performance scope attached to them. You have cars, a unisex salon, a clothing store, and a mod shop for off-road cars. I must admit, the benefits are enticing. 

However, if the additional cost doesn’t make sense to you, there’s always the option of pre-ordering the Standard Edition and upgrading to the Ultimate Edition in the future. You can make these purchases via the Rockstar Games website or the respective PlayStation or Xbox stores for your platform of choice.