Grand Theft Auto VI is almost here, so it’s time to make your final preparations. Watch the extended gameplay footage? Check. Revisit the nostalgia of Vice City? Check. Pick which console you’ll use to play? Check. All that’s left now is to preorder, right? Actually, there’s one more choice to make because GTA 6 comes in two versions: the Standard Edition and Ultimate Edition. But which should you purchase? Let us help you make the decision.
GTA 6 Standard Edition vs. Ultimate Edition: Price
Both editions of GTA 6 launch on Nov. 19 for the same platforms (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S). The most obvious difference is price. The Standard Edition costs $80, which is already higher than the typical price even for a modern blockbuster video game. Meanwhile, the Ultimate Edition costs $100, not uncommon for a deluxe version of the game, but still potentially a hard pill to swallow. If you’ve already purchased the Standard Edition, you can also pay to upgrade to the Ultimate Edition.
GTA 6 Standard Edition vs. Ultimate Edition: Content
Both editions promise a version of the GTA 6 that should feel plenty complete. But what do you get with the Ultimate Edition to make it worth the premium upgrade? Put another way, what does the Standard Edition lack?
GTA 6 Ultimate Edition includes a variety of extra weapons, cosmetics, and cars. If you want to drive around in a ‘95 Grotti Cheetah while getting into shootouts with Hawk & Little Morgan Revolvers, this is the only way. This version also unlocks new storefronts for accessing exclusive content, such as salons and tattoo parlors to further customize your character, or shops to mod your guns. “Ultimate Edition bonuses are threaded across all aspects of Jason and Lucia’s story, with new items uncovered behind each chapter,” Rockstar says.
There are also preorder bonuses available on both versions. Buy GTA 6 before Nov. 20, and you’ll unlock additional retro weapons, outfits, and vehicles inspired by the 1980s version of Vice City. You also get one month of GTA+, Rockstar’s membership for Grand Theft Auto Online, an $8 value.
We Got a GTA 6 PC Before We Got GTA 6
GTA 6 Standard Edition vs. Ultimate Edition: Value
It’s hard to look at these two versions and not feel that the one with more stuff is the better, fuller experience. “It’s the culmination of that really obnoxious trend where studios develop a game then chop it up to sell back to you later as DLC,” said my colleague Gabe Zamora, expressing frustration over the split. “In this case, they’re literally launching with two versions of the game: one has all the customizations and features available at launch, and the cheaper version cuts down on that to package the product at a ‘discount price.’ It gives Rockstar a way to charge 100 bucks for a game without looking like bad guys.”
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So, even if it feels a bit scummy, if you’re already paying $80 for a game, there’s an argument to be made that you might as well go for the full $100 version just to sample everything on offer. However, when I actually look at the Ultimate perks, it’s all seemingly supplemental material, not core aspects of the game itself. New styles and guns are nice to have, but it’s not like the Standard Edition won’t have plenty of those already.
GTA 6 Standard Edition vs. Ultimate Edition: Which Should You Pick?
Our recommendation? If you’re a true diehard and plan to immerse yourself in GTA 6 for weeks and months to come, you’ll easily get your money’s worth out of the Ultimate Edition. But if you’re less sure, if you’re just playing the game because you’re curious about the hype, stick with Standard at launch, and upgrade later if you’re still hungry for more.
About Our Expert
Jordan Minor
Principal Writer, Software
Experience
My PCMag career began in 2013 as an intern. Now, I’m a senior writer, using the skills I acquired at Northwestern University to write about dating apps, meal kits, programming software, website builders, video streaming services, and video games. I was previously a senior editor at Geek.com and have written for The A.V. Club, Kotaku, and Paste Magazine. I’m the author of the gaming history book Video Game of the Year: A Year-by-Year Guide to the Best, Boldest, and Most Bizarre Games from Every Year Since 1977, and the reason everything you know about Street Sharks is a lie.
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