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  • GTA 6 Pre-Load Guide: Dates, Times and How to Get Ready

    GTA 6 Pre-Load Guide: Dates, Times and How to Get Ready

    GTA 6 launches on November 19, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and you can download it a week early. Pre-loading lets the game sit installed on your console, locked, so you’re not stuck waiting on a huge download with everyone else on launch day.

    This guide sticks to what Rockstar, Sony and Microsoft have actually published, checked October 11, 2026, and flags what hasn’t been announced yet.

    Quick answer

    Pre-loading starts at local midnight on November 12, 2026, according to Rockstar Support. Digital pre-orders of either edition can pre-load, and boxed copies can pre-load once you’ve redeemed the code inside. The US PlayStation Store currently lists the unlock as midnight Eastern on November 19. The file size hasn’t been announced.

    What’s confirmed
    Pre-load startsLocal midnight, November 12, 2026 (Rockstar Support)
    Launch dateNovember 19, 2026, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
    Unlock time on launch dayUS PlayStation Store lists 05:00 UTC Nov 19 (midnight Eastern); Rockstar hasn’t published a schedule
    File sizeNot announced
    Who can pre-loadDigital pre-orders, and boxed buyers once the code is redeemed
    Boxed copies availableExpected from November 12 (shipping and in-store pickup)

    When does GTA 6 pre-loading start?

    At local midnight on November 12, 2026. Rockstar’s support page confirms both the date and the time, so the download should become available as the date changes where you live.

    Rockstar’s June pre-order announcement gave November 12 as the date digital pre-orders can begin pre-loading. Its support page on editions and versions adds the time: local midnight.

    The pre-loaded game stays locked until launch. You can’t play any of it early; you’re just getting the download out of the way.

    Can you pre-load the boxed version?

    Yes, once you have the code. The boxed GTA 6 contains a download code instead of a disc, and Rockstar says codes can be redeemed as soon as you receive them to support pre-loading.

    Rockstar expects boxed copies to be available for shipping and pickup from November 12. That’s the earliest date, not a guaranteed delivery date, so if your box arrives on the 15th, your pre-load window starts on the 15th. If having it ready for launch matters to you, pre-ordering digitally or a confirmed in-store pickup are the safer options.

    Once you have the box, redeem the code in your console’s store:

    • PS5: open the PlayStation Store, press the Triangle button, select … (More) and choose Redeem Code.
    • Xbox: open the Microsoft Store, go to the menu and choose Redeem, or redeem on the web at xbox.com/redeem.

    Make sure you’re signed in to the account you’ll play on. Redeemed content can’t be moved to a different account afterward.

    One thing to check before buying a code anywhere other than your console’s own store: per Rockstar Support, GTA 6 codes for PlayStation only work on accounts in the matching region (a North American code works on US and Canadian accounts), while GTA 6 codes for Xbox aren’t region-locked. Our guide to where to buy game keys safely covers how to avoid bad codes.

    What time does GTA 6 unlock on November 19?

    Rockstar hasn’t published an unlock schedule, but the US PlayStation Store currently lists GTA 6’s release as 05:00 UTC on November 19. That’s midnight Eastern, or 9:00 PM Pacific on November 18. Other regions show different times, and store listings can change before launch.

    The US listing suggests the game unlocks at the same moment across the US rather than at each time zone’s own midnight, which means West Coast players may be able to start on the evening of November 18. Microsoft’s store page shows November 19 but no exact time yet.

    You’ll also find sites claiming other times, including a supposed 1:00 PM US unlock attributed to Rockstar. That claim cites no Rockstar source and doesn’t match the PlayStation Store listing, so ignore it.

    The practical advice: pre-load early, then check your own console’s store page for GTA 6 in the days before launch, since that’s where any change will show up first.

    How big is GTA 6?

    Rockstar hasn’t published an install size, and neither the PlayStation Store nor the Xbox Store lists one yet. Ignore viral screenshots claiming a specific number until an official figure appears.

    Unverified numbers ranging from about 120GB to over 600GB have circulated online. None come from Rockstar, and at least one widely shared screenshot traced back to a parody account. Rockstar’s big open-world games have historically been large downloads, so it’s sensible to plan for a lot of space, but don’t buy new storage on the strength of a rumor.

    What you can do now is check how much free space you actually have:

    • PS5: go to Settings > Storage to see free space on the console’s internal SSD.
    • Xbox: go to Settings > System > Storage devices.

    The console most likely to feel tight is the 512GB Xbox Series S, which has about 364GB available for games, apps and captures once system files are accounted for, according to IGN’s testing. If you’re unsure which console has room, our PS5 vs Xbox Series X for GTA 6 guide lists the storage on each model.

    If the final size turns out to be more than you can free up, our guide to the best console accessories for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S covers storage expansion options for both.

    How to set up your PS5 to pre-load GTA 6

    Check that auto-download is switched on for your GTA 6 pre-order itself, then let the console stay connected to the internet in rest mode. If both are set, the download starts as soon as it’s available.

    Sony’s support pages explain the settings:

    1. Open your Game Library, select your GTA 6 pre-order and select its countdown timer. Make sure the checkbox next to the game is selected. That’s what turns on auto-download for a pre-order.
    2. Go to Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode and turn on Stay Connected to the Internet.
    3. Go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Automatic Updates and turn on Auto-Download, so any updates download too.
    4. Leave the PS5 in rest mode overnight on November 11 rather than switching it fully off.

    If the download hasn’t started by the morning of November 12, open your Game Library, select GTA 6 and start the download manually.

    One warning before you pre-load on PlayStation: Sony’s policy is that once a pre-order has started downloading, including pre-loading, you can no longer cancel it for a refund. If you’re still unsure about your pre-order, decide before November 12, or turn auto-download off for it until you’re sure.

    How to set up your Xbox to pre-load GTA 6

    Make sure automatic updates for games are on and use Sleep mode for the most predictable overnight download. Then check the queue on November 12 to confirm the pre-load actually started.

    1. Go to Settings > General > Power options and choose Sleep. Shutdown (energy saving) mode can still download overnight during the console’s scheduled maintenance, but Sleep keeps the console more ready for remote and automatic installs. If you’ve set active hours for Sleep, make sure they cover the night.
    2. Go to Settings > System > Updates and make sure Keep my games & apps up to date is on.
    3. If you have more than one Xbox, automatic installs go to your Home Xbox, so make sure that’s the console you’ll play on.
    4. Leave the console asleep overnight on November 11.

    If the download hasn’t appeared by November 12, check My games & apps > Manage > Queue, or find GTA 6 in your full library and install it from there.

    Pre-load checklist

    Do these before November 12 to give yourself the best chance of having GTA 6 downloaded and ready when it unlocks.

    • Pre-order digitally, or arrange store pickup for a boxed copy if you want the full pre-load week.
    • Check your free storage and clear space if you’re low. Wait for the official size before buying extra storage.
    • Turn on automatic downloads and rest or sleep mode using the steps above, including the pre-order checkbox on PS5.
    • Check the download queue on November 12 to make sure the pre-load actually started, and again before launch to make sure it finished.
    • Leave some extra space for any update that arrives before or on launch day.
    • Redeem your boxed code the day you get it.
    • Note your GTA+ month. Digital pre-orders include one month of GTA+, which renews automatically as a paid membership once you activate it unless you cancel. Claim it by March 31, 2027 on PlayStation, or within 180 days of placing your pre-order on Xbox. Claiming GTA+ is separate from pre-loading the game.
    • Check your store page for the unlock time in the days before November 19.

    Who this isn’t for: PC players. GTA 6 is launching on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only, and Rockstar hasn’t announced a PC version.

    Haven’t pre-ordered yet?

    There’s still time to pre-order and get the full week of pre-loading. The boxed Standard Edition is sold at major retailers, including Amazon:

    Not sure which edition to get? Our Standard vs Ultimate Edition guide breaks it down. And while you wait, here are the best games to play while waiting for GTA 6, or put the time into GTA Online with our complete guide to making money fast.

  • PS5 vs Xbox Series X for GTA 6: Which Console Should You Buy?

    PS5 vs Xbox Series X for GTA 6: Which Console Should You Buy?

    Grand Theft Auto VI launches on November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S only. There’s no PC version announced, so if you don’t own one of these consoles, you’ll need one to play at launch. From what’s been reported so far, console versions are running at 30 frames per second, and nothing suggests a big gap between PlayStation and Xbox. The clearest difference right now is price.

    Console prices below are US list prices as of early October 2026. Retailer deals, bundles and refurbished units can be cheaper.

    Quick answer

    If you already own a PS5 or an Xbox Series X|S, play GTA 6 on that. If you’re buying a console for it, the PS5 Digital Edition is the better value right now: it costs $150 less than the Xbox Series X Digital Edition, and Rockstar’s own PS5 footage shows the game running well.

    The Xbox Series S is the cheapest way in at $499.99, but its GTA 6 performance hasn’t been shown and its storage is tight. The PS5 Pro carries a “PS5 Pro Enhanced” label, but nobody has said what that means for GTA 6 yet.

    Console prices for GTA 6 (US, October 2026)

    ConsoleList priceDisc driveNotes
    Xbox Series S (512GB)$499.99NoCheapest option; GTA 6 performance not yet shown
    Xbox Series S (1TB)$599.99NoMore storage, same performance as the 512GB model
    PS5 Digital Edition (825GB)$599.99No (add-on drive sold separately)Best value of the full-power consoles
    PS5 (disc, 1TB)$649.99YesMore storage than the Digital Edition
    Xbox Series X Digital$749.99NoSame performance as the disc Series X
    Xbox Series X (disc)$799.99Yes
    PS5 Pro (2TB)$899.99No (add-on drive sold separately)“PS5 Pro Enhanced,” details unannounced

    Sony raised PS5 prices on April 2, 2026, and Microsoft raised Xbox prices on August 1, 2026. Those are the prices shown above. You may see claims online that Sony rolled its prices back in August 2026; that appears to be a mix-up with Sony’s August 2025 price change, and Sony’s own store still lists the April 2026 prices.

    How does GTA 6 run on PS5 and Xbox?

    Console builds of GTA 6 were reportedly running at 30 frames per second in August, and Rockstar hasn’t committed to a 60fps mode. Analysis of Rockstar’s PS5 footage found a 1440p image at a mostly stable 30fps. Nothing comparable has been shown for Xbox, and final performance modes haven’t been announced.

    In late August, journalist Davy Jones reported a conversation with Rockstar co-studio head Rob Nelson after a studio visit. According to that account, the console builds were running at 30 frames per second, and Nelson said he’d need to check with the technical team about whether a 60fps option will come at launch or later. That’s a report about the game in development, not a final specification from Rockstar.

    Digital Foundry analyzed Rockstar’s extended gameplay footage, which PlayStation says was captured entirely on PS5. It estimated a native resolution of 2560×1440 (or very close to it) and a mostly stable, well-paced 30fps with occasional single-frame drops. Because that footage is itself a 30fps video, it’s a good sign rather than a test of the finished game.

    What that means for each console:

    • PS5: The only console GTA 6 has been shown running on so far, and the footage looks solid.
    • Xbox Series X: Its hardware is broadly comparable to the PS5, but no GTA 6 footage or analysis from it has been published, so don’t assume it will run better, worse or the same until it’s tested.
    • Xbox Series S: A weaker console with less memory. Neither Rockstar nor Microsoft has published its resolution or frame rate for GTA 6. Expect a lower resolution than the Series X, but treat anything more specific as a guess until it’s shown.
    • PS5 Pro: PlayStation’s store lists GTA 6 as “PS5 Pro Enhanced,” but no one has said what the enhancements are. In its general testing of CPU-limited games, Digital Foundry found the Pro only around 7% faster than a standard PS5, which it says is unlikely on its own to double GTA 6 to 60fps. That’s not a GTA 6 test, and the Pro’s stronger graphics hardware could still improve image quality. Don’t spend $899.99 on a Pro for GTA 6 alone until Rockstar explains what you get.

    Features that differ

    On PS5, GTA 6 supports the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, plus Tempest 3D Audio. On Xbox, the game is labeled “Optimized for Xbox Series X|S,” but no Game Pass inclusion has been announced, so budget to buy the game on either console.

    PlayStation’s GTA 6 page lists haptic feedback, adaptive trigger resistance, sound effects through the DualSense’s built-in speaker, Tempest 3D Audio and fast loading from the PS5’s SSD. Xbox’s store page doesn’t list GTA 6 specific features beyond the “Optimized for Xbox Series X|S” badge.

    Game Pass is still a reason some people prefer Xbox, but don’t count on it for GTA 6. Neither Microsoft nor Rockstar has announced GTA 6 for Game Pass, and it’s sold as a standalone purchase on the Xbox Store, the same $79.99 or $99.99 as on PlayStation. Our Standard vs Ultimate Edition guide explains which edition to get.

    Do you need a disc drive?

    Not for GTA 6. The announced boxed version contains a download code instead of a disc, so a digital-only console plays it the same as a disc model. A disc drive still has value for used games, other physical games and Blu-ray movies.

    Rockstar confirmed in June that the physical version of GTA 6 is a download code in a box. Rockstar hasn’t announced a disc release. That makes the digital models a sensible way to save $50 if GTA 6 is your main reason for buying, with two catches:

    • The PS5 Digital Edition has less storage. Sony lists it at 825GB, against 1TB for the disc PS5. So the extra $50 for the disc model also buys more space.
    • Physical game libraries need a disc drive. If you own Xbox or PlayStation games on disc, buy the disc version so you can keep playing them.

    What about storage?

    GTA 6’s install size hasn’t been announced. Check how much free space you have before pre-loading opens on November 12, but don’t buy extra storage until the real size is known.

    Neither Rockstar nor the Xbox Store lists an install size yet. Treat the large numbers floating around online as estimates. The 512GB Series S is the console most likely to feel tight, followed by the 825GB PS5 Digital Edition, since system software takes part of each. If the size turns out to be more than you can free up, our guide to the best console accessories for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S covers storage expansion options for both.

    Which console should you buy for GTA 6?

    For most people buying new, the PS5 Digital Edition. If your game library and your other games are on Xbox, the Series X is still a good choice. It just costs more right now.

    Buy a PS5 Digital Edition if:

    • You don’t own a current console and want the best value for GTA 6.
    • You want the console GTA 6 has actually been shown running on.
    • You like the idea of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.

    Buy an Xbox Series X if:

    • You already have an Xbox library, accessories or a Game Pass subscription you use, or your friends play other games with you on Xbox. (The PlayStation and Xbox stores currently describe GTA 6 as single-player, and no online mode or crossplay details have been announced.)
    • Your Xbox games are on disc. In that case, pick the disc Series X ($799.99), not the Digital model.
    • You’re happy to pay $150 more than a PS5 Digital for that ecosystem.

    Buy an Xbox Series S only if:

    • Budget is the deciding factor and you accept a likely lower resolution and less storage. The Series S can’t play discs at all. Wait for performance coverage before launch if you can.

    Skip the PS5 Pro for now if:

    • GTA 6 is your main reason. At $899.99 with unannounced enhancements, it’s a hard sell until Rockstar details what the Pro version adds.

    Who this isn’t for: PC players. Rockstar hasn’t announced a PC version of GTA 6. If you’re weighing a gaming PC against a console for open-world games in general, our PC vs console comparison covers the tradeoffs.

    Where to buy

    Prices change often, so check the current price before you buy:

    No official GTA 6 console bundle had been announced by Sony or Microsoft as of early October, so for now you’ll buy the console and the game separately. If a bundle appears before launch, compare it against the separate prices above.

    If you’re buying a new controller to go with it, see our best gaming controller guide. Waiting for November 19? Here are the best games to play while waiting for GTA 6.

  • GTA 6 Standard vs Ultimate Edition: Which Should You Buy?

    GTA 6 Standard vs Ultimate Edition: Which Should You Buy?

    Grand Theft Auto VI launches on November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and it comes in two editions: Standard at $79.99 and Ultimate at $99.99. The extra $20 buys a pack of in-game extras, not a different game. The more useful detail is buried in Rockstar’s support pages: the Ultimate content is also sold separately as an upgrade, and on the Xbox Store it costs exactly the $20 gap. That changes the decision for most people.

    Prices below are US list prices from Rockstar and Take-Two, with Canadian prices from the Xbox Store, checked October 8, 2026.

    Quick comparison

    Standard EditionUltimate Edition
    US price$79.99$99.99
    Canadian price (Xbox Store)CA$109.99CA$139.99
    The main game and storyYesYes
    Vintage Vice City Pack (buy before Nov 20)YesYes
    One month of GTA+ (digital pre-orders)YesYes
    Ultimate vehicles, weapons, outfits, shops and activitiesNo (sold separately as an upgrade)Yes
    Boxed retail versionYes (a download code in the box, no disc)No, digital only
    Pre-load from November 12YesYes

    What’s in the Standard Edition?

    The Standard Edition includes the base game and the main story across Leonida. What it lacks are the Ultimate extras: some vehicles, weapons, styles, five shops and a couple of side activities. Anyone who pre-orders or buys it before November 20 also gets the Vintage Vice City Pack.

    Rockstar’s support page describes it simply: the Standard Edition includes the game. Rockstar’s descriptions of the Ultimate Edition list extras and side content, not a separate part of the main campaign.

    The Vintage Vice City Pack is the pre-order and early-purchase bonus for both editions. Per Rockstar, it includes a ’55 Vapid Stanier sedan with a garage, outfits and hairstyles, and an exclusive weapon pattern. It applies to purchases made before November 20, 2026, so buying on launch day (November 19) still counts, but the day after does not.

    What does the Ultimate Edition add?

    The Ultimate Edition is the Standard Edition plus the Ultimate Edition Upgrade: extra vehicles, weapons, clothing, shops and a couple of side activities, spread through Jason and Lucia’s story.

    Based on the upgrade’s listing on the Xbox Store and Rockstar’s announcement, the extras include:

    • Vehicles: a ’95 Grotti Cheetah, the Ganado Retro Build (exclusive modifications for Jason’s Vapid Ganado pickup), a Shitzu Squalo watercraft, a ’67 Vapid Dominator buggy with a garage, and Jason’s safehouse motorcycle and kayak.
    • Weapons: the Hawk & Little Morgan revolvers (one for each protagonist) and engraved versions of Jason’s and Lucia’s pistols.
    • Style: Vice City themed outfits, hairstyles and tattoos for both characters, plus Goodtime Gear apparel.
    • Activities: a raid on a gang compound in Southside Vice City and a classic car collection commission from a fixer named Wyman.
    • Shops that only open with the Ultimate Edition: Rideout Customs, Sara’s Unisex Salon, Stock 305, Electric Fang Tattoo and One-Eyed Willie’s.

    That last point is what has made the Ultimate Edition controversial. The store listings describe those five as destinations “only open for business with the Ultimate Edition.” Rockstar says the Ultimate content is threaded across Jason and Lucia’s story, with items unlocking as you progress through the chapters rather than all at once on day one.

    Can you upgrade from Standard to Ultimate later?

    Yes. Rockstar sells the Ultimate Edition Upgrade separately for $20 (CA$30 on the Xbox Store), which is exactly the price gap between the two editions. At current Xbox list prices, buying Standard now and upgrading later costs the same as buying Ultimate.

    Rockstar’s support page confirms that Standard owners can buy the upgrade as a digital add-on through the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store at any point. If you buy the boxed version, you can upgrade once you’ve redeemed the code in the box.

    That means you don’t have to decide now. Start with Standard, play for a few days, and if you find yourself wanting the Cheetah or wishing that tattoo parlor were open, upgrade then. You might decide you don’t care. Prices and promotions can change, so check the upgrade price when you’re ready to buy.

    The upgrade is listed on the Xbox Store at $20. The PlayStation Store has a listing for it too, but it wasn’t purchasable yet when we checked on October 8, so its PlayStation price wasn’t shown.

    Is the Ultimate Edition available in a box?

    No. Rockstar’s support page states that a physical version of the Ultimate Edition is not available. Only the Standard Edition comes boxed, and that box holds a download code, not a disc.

    Rockstar confirmed in June that the boxed version contains a download code inside the case rather than a disc. Rockstar expects boxed copies to be available for shipping and pickup from November 12. You can pre-load once you’ve received and redeemed the code, so ordering a box doesn’t guarantee you’ll have it installed at midnight on the 12th.

    That makes the choice simple if you prefer buying from a store (to use a gift card, a retailer credit or a store discount): buy the boxed Standard Edition, then add the upgrade digitally later if you want it.

    There have been reports since June of a disc release coming later. Rockstar hasn’t announced one, so don’t hold off buying on the strength of those reports.

    GTA+ and the pre-order bonus: read this before you redeem

    Digital pre-orders on either edition come with one month of GTA+, Rockstar’s paid membership. It renews automatically once activated, so note the date you redeem it.

    Rockstar’s support page lists one month of GTA+ Membership with digital pre-orders made before November 20, 2026. The Xbox Store and PlayStation Store both advertise it, so it isn’t limited to one console. It can be claimed once per account, however many editions or upgrades you buy.

    Two things to know:

    • It auto-renews. After the free month, GTA+ continues as a paid monthly membership ($7.99 a month in the US at the time of writing) unless you cancel it in your console’s subscription settings before the renewal date.
    • There’s a deadline to claim it. On Xbox, the month must be redeemed within 180 days of placing your pre-order (not 180 days from launch). On PlayStation, Sony’s offer terms set a deadline of March 31, 2027.

    The boxed Standard Edition includes the Vintage Vice City Pack, but Rockstar lists the GTA+ month only for digital pre-orders.

    Which edition should you buy?

    For most players, the Standard Edition. You get the main game and story, and the upgrade path means you can still add every Ultimate extra later, for the same total at current Xbox prices.

    Buy the Standard Edition if:

    • You mainly want the story and the open world. The main campaign is all there.
    • You want a boxed copy from a store. It’s the only edition sold that way.
    • You aren’t sure. The upgrade is sold separately, so you can add it later if you change your mind.

    Buy the Ultimate Edition up front if:

    • You already know you want everything, and you’re buying digitally anyway.
    • You want each Ultimate extra to unlock as you reach it in the story, without having to buy anything partway through.

    Who this isn’t for: PC players. GTA 6 is launching on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only, and Rockstar hasn’t announced a PC version. If you’re deciding which platform to play on, our PC vs console comparison covers the tradeoffs and current console prices.

    Where to buy

    The boxed Standard Edition is sold at major retailers, including Amazon:

    The Ultimate Edition and the upgrade are sold digitally through the PlayStation Store and the Microsoft Store.

    One thing to check if you buy a code anywhere other than your console’s own store: per Rockstar Support, GTA VI codes for PlayStation are tied to your account’s region (a North American code works on US and Canadian accounts), while GTA VI codes for Xbox are not region-locked. Rockstar still recommends buying from a retailer in the same country as your console account. Our guide to where to buy game keys safely explains how to avoid codes that get revoked. For ways to pay less, see how to find the best deals on open-world games.

    While you wait for November 19

    Pre-loading starts at local midnight on November 12, so you can have the game installed before launch. Until then, our list of the best games to play while waiting for GTA 6 has open-world picks for every budget. If you’re spending the wait in GTA Online, our complete guide to making money fast and our heists ranked by payout will help you get the most out of your playtime.

  • Best Game Bundles for Open-World Fans

    Best Game Bundles for Open-World Fans

    Open-world games are built to be expanded, and their best content often arrives a year or two after launch. That makes “bundles” one of the best ways to buy them, but the word covers three very different things: complete editions that package a game with all its expansions, subscriptions that rent you a rotating library, and limited-time bundles that bundle stores run for a few weeks at a time. This guide covers the best of each, and what to check before you buy.

    Short answer: for most people, a complete edition is the best open-world bundle, because it’s sold year-round and includes the expansions you’d otherwise buy separately. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (now sold as Remastered) and Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree Edition are the standouts. On PC, Humble and Fanatical run rotating bundles worth watching, and on Xbox, Game Pass works like a bundle you rent.

    What to check before you buy a bundle

    Check exactly which expansions are included, whether the console disc actually contains them, and whether you already own part of the bundle.

    • What’s included. “Complete” usually means every expansion released so far, not ones announced for the future.
    • Disc versus download. Some physical editions put only the base game on the disc, with the expansion as a download code. If you buy a used copy, make sure the code hasn’t been redeemed.
    • What you already own. If you have the base game, compare the expansion’s price on its own against the bundle; buying it separately is often cheaper, but not always during sales.
    • Platform. Make sure the edition matches your console generation; some games sell separate PS4 and PS5 or Xbox One and Series versions.

    The best complete editions

    Best overall: Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition

    The base game plus the Phantom Liberty expansion in one package, with all the updates that turned the game’s reputation around since its rough 2020 launch.

    Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City is one of the densest open worlds available, and Phantom Liberty, a spy-thriller expansion set in a new district, is widely considered some of its best content. The Ultimate Edition bundles both, so you don’t need to buy the expansion separately later. One catch on PS5: the physical box includes Phantom Liberty as a redeemable code rather than on the disc, so with a used copy, check that the code is unused and matches your PlayStation account’s region. It’s the natural pick for anyone who likes GTA’s modern-city setting; our guide to the best games to play while waiting for GTA6 covers how long the story takes.

    Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. Price: $59.99 for the PS5 version at GameStop (October 8, 2026), and it goes on sale regularly.

    Check Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition on Amazon

    Best for a huge fantasy world: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Remastered)

    The full game with both of its expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. It’s now sold as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered, which arrived September 29, 2026 as a free upgrade for existing owners.

    The Witcher 3’s two expansions add dozens of hours, and Blood and Wine is practically a sequel in its own right, with a whole new region. Current digital versions include both, and older boxes labeled Complete Edition also contain both expansions. CD Projekt Red released The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered on September 29, 2026 as a free upgrade for owners on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. A new paid expansion, Songs of the Past, has been announced for 2027 and will be sold separately, so “complete” here means everything released so far.

    Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and others. Price: $49.99 regular price on Steam, the PlayStation Store and the Xbox Store (October 8, 2026), and it’s regularly discounted.

    Check The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on Amazon

    Best for a challenge: Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Edition

    Elden Ring plus its large Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. It’s the most demanding pick here, and you can’t enter the expansion until you’ve beaten two major bosses in the main game.

    Elden Ring’s open world is famous for rewarding exploration, and Shadow of the Erdtree adds a big new map area. The Shadow of the Erdtree Edition includes both the base game and the expansion, and launched at $79.99. To reach the new area, you first have to defeat Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood. On PS5 and Xbox Series X, the physical disc contains only the base game, and the expansion comes as a download code (the Xbox Series S has no disc drive, so it’s digital-only there). If you already own Elden Ring, compare the expansion’s price on its own ($39.99 at launch) with the bundle.

    Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. Price: $79.99 at launch (June 2024), and still $79.99 on Steam on October 8, 2026; it goes on sale periodically.

    Check Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Edition on Amazon

    For GTA fans: Grand Theft Auto V

    The full GTA V package gets you both the story and GTA Online, and on PC, new purchases include both the Enhanced and Legacy versions plus the Criminal Enterprise Starter Pack.

    If you somehow haven’t played GTA V, it’s still the best way to prepare for GTA6, and it bundles two games in one: the single-player story and GTA Online. On PC, every new purchase includes both GTA V Enhanced and GTA V Legacy, so older PCs are covered too. One catch: the Criminal Enterprise Starter Pack has to be claimed on a GTA Online character in Legacy, and that character then migrated to Enhanced; characters created directly in Enhanced don’t get it. Rockstar says the cash can take 7 to 10 days to arrive, so wait for it before migrating, since migration is one-time. Also make sure you’re buying the full game; GTA Online is also sold on its own. Our guides to GTA Online’s best heists and making money fast pick up from there.

    Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. Price: varies by platform and frequently on sale.

    Check Grand Theft Auto V on Amazon

    Also consider

    Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition (PS5 and PC) bundles the game with its Burning Shores expansion, and on PS5 the physical version includes both on its two discs, which is handy if you prefer owning everything on disc. Burning Shores unlocks after you finish the main story. For a crime-series collection, Mafia: Trilogy packages the Definitive Editions of the first three Mafia games.

    Subscriptions: bundles you rent

    Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus’s higher tiers give you a rotating library of games for a monthly fee. They’re great value if you play a lot, but games leave the library, and you lose access when you stop paying.

    On Xbox and PC, Game Pass includes some big open-world games from day one; Forza Horizon 6, for example, launched straight into Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass in May 2026. PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium offer a rotating catalog on PS5. Two things to know before treating one as a bundle. First, catalog access usually covers the base game only, so expansions are often a separate purchase; Forza Horizon 6’s Game Pass version, for example, is the Standard Edition. Second, if you buy an expansion for a catalog game and that game later leaves the service or your subscription lapses, you lose access to the expansion until you own the base game. Prices have also changed several times since 2025, so check the current price before subscribing.

    Rotating PC bundles: Humble and Fanatical

    Humble and Fanatical run limited-time bundles of PC games that can include several open-world titles for less than the price of one. Both are authorized stores, so their keys come through official channels.

    These bundles are limited-time offers with varying end dates, so there’s no permanent “best” one, but they’re worth checking before you buy a PC game at full price. Humble’s bundles let you choose how much to pay, with tiers that unlock more games at higher prices, and part of each purchase goes to charity. Fanatical runs build-your-own bundles where you pick a set number of games from a list. Both are on IsThereAnyDeal’s list of authorized stores; our guide to where to buy game keys safely explains why that matters, and our deals guide covers how to tell whether a bundle price is actually good.

    Quick comparison

    BundleWhat’s includedPlatformsPrice
    Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate EditionBase game, Phantom Liberty (code in the PS5 box)PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC$59.99 (GameStop, Oct 8, 2026)
    The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Remastered)Base game, Hearts of Stone, Blood and WinePS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC$49.99 regular
    Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree EditionBase game, Shadow of the ErdtreePS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC$79.99 at launch
    Grand Theft Auto VStory Mode, GTA Online (PC: Enhanced and Legacy)PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PCVaries
    Game Pass / PS PlusRotating library, rented monthlyXbox and PC / PlayStationCheck current price
    Humble / Fanatical bundlesLimited-time, contents varyPCVaries

    Who this isn’t for

    If you already own the base game, a complete edition usually isn’t the best buy; compare the expansion’s price on its own first. And if you only play one game at a time and finish it, a subscription can cost more than simply buying that game, especially once it goes on sale.

    Bottom line

    For a permanent purchase, a complete edition is the safest open-world bundle: Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition for a modern city, The Witcher 3 for a huge fantasy world, and Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree Edition for a challenge. If you play a lot of different games, a subscription can be better value, and on PC, check Humble and Fanatical before paying full price.

  • Best Co-Op Games for Playing with Friends

    Best Co-Op Games for Playing with Friends

    The best co-op game for your group depends less on reviews than on a few practical questions: how many of you are playing, whether you’re on the same couch or in different houses, whether everyone owns the same console, and whether everyone has to buy a copy. Most “best co-op games” lists skip those details. This one is built around them.

    Short answer: for two players, Split Fiction is the best co-op game you can buy, and only one of you needs to own it. For a squad of four online, Helldivers 2 is the pick. Monster Hunter Wilds is the best for teaming up on big fights, Overcooked! All You Can Eat is the best for a couch full of people, and GTA Online is the obvious choice if your crew already plays GTA.

    What to check before you buy a co-op game

    Check four things: the player limit, whether it supports couch co-op or online only, whether it has crossplay between PlayStation, Xbox and PC, and whether every player needs their own copy.

    • Player count. Some games are built for exactly two players; others top out at four.
    • Couch or online. Couch co-op means sharing one screen. Many modern co-op games are online only, so each player needs their own console or PC.
    • Crossplay. If your friends are spread across PlayStation, Xbox and PC, crossplay is what lets you play together at all.
    • Copies. Usually every online player needs their own copy, but a few games let one owner bring a friend along for free.

    On PS5 and Xbox, playing online also generally requires PlayStation Plus or an Xbox Game Pass tier that includes online multiplayer. Couch co-op on one console doesn’t need a subscription, and both platforms let some accounts on a shared console use one subscription, so check before anyone pays twice.

    The picks

    Best for two players: Split Fiction

    A two-player adventure from the studio behind It Takes Two, with a Metascore of 91 on PS5. It works on one couch or online with crossplay, and thanks to its Friend’s Pass, only one of you has to buy it.

    Split Fiction follows two writers trapped inside their own stories, switching between science fiction and fantasy worlds with new mechanics in nearly every level. It’s designed strictly for two players; there’s no solo mode. The Friend’s Pass is the standout feature: one person buys the game, and the other downloads the free Friend’s Pass to play the whole thing with them, including across PlayStation, Xbox, PC and Switch 2. The Friend’s Pass covers the second copy, not a console’s online subscription.

    Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2. Price: $49.99 list; it has sold for less, including $28 for the PC (EA app) version at Amazon in March 2026.

    Check Split Fiction on Amazon

    Best for a squad of four: Helldivers 2

    A chaotic four-player shooter where teamwork and friendly fire matter equally. It has crossplay across PS5, Xbox and PC, and costs $39.99.

    Helldivers 2 drops your squad onto alien planets with missions to complete and air strikes to call in, and part of the fun is that your friends’ fire can kill you as easily as the enemy’s. It launched on PS5 and PC in 2024 and arrived on Xbox Series X|S in August 2025, with crossplay across all three. It’s online only, so each player needs their own copy and system, and it plays best with a full squad of three or four.

    Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. Price: $39.99 standard list price, and it goes on sale regularly.

    Check Helldivers 2 on Amazon

    Best for teaming up on big fights: Monster Hunter Wilds

    Up to four hunters take down giant monsters together, and it’s the first main Monster Hunter game to launch with full crossplay across PS5, Xbox and PC.

    Monster Hunter Wilds is built around cooperative hunts: you track a huge creature across an open region, wear it down together, and craft better gear from what you carve off it. It launched in February 2025 with crossplay for up to four players. It’s online only, with no split-screen, and it can also be played solo if your group can’t always get together.

    Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. Price: $69.99 at launch; it has dropped well below that, including $19.99 for the PS5 version at Amazon in February 2026.

    Check Monster Hunter Wilds on Amazon

    Best for the couch: Overcooked! All You Can Eat

    Up to four players run a chaotic kitchen on one screen, online or a mix of both. This edition bundles both Overcooked games and all their extra content, with crossplay on every platform.

    Overcooked is the classic couch co-op game: everyone shares one kitchen and one screen, and the fun comes from the shouting as orders pile up. All You Can Eat includes Overcooked! and Overcooked! 2 with all their DLC (downloadable content), remastered, plus crossplay across PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC. On a single console, up to four people can play with one copy, and local players can join an online game together on that same copy. Each console or PC in an online game needs All You Can Eat, since it doesn’t connect with the older standalone versions.

    Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC. Price: launched at $49.99 and is often discounted.

    Check Overcooked! All You Can Eat on Amazon

    Best if your crew plays GTA: GTA Online

    GTA Online has co-op heists for crews of different sizes, many built around four players, and it comes with GTA V, so many groups already own it.

    If your friends already play GTA, its heists are some of the best structured co-op in any open-world game: you plan, gear up and pull off a multi-stage job together, with everyone covering a different role. Our guides to GTA Online’s best heists ranked by payout and making money fast cover which jobs are worth your crew’s time. One limitation: there’s no crossplay between PlayStation, Xbox and PC, so your whole crew needs the same platform. On PC, everyone also needs the same version, since GTA V Legacy and Enhanced players can’t join each other’s sessions.

    Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. Price: included with GTA V.

    Also consider: Baldur’s Gate 3

    If your group wants a long campaign rather than quick sessions, Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the most acclaimed co-op games available: up to four players online, two-player split-screen on consoles, and crossplay across PS5, Xbox and PC since a patch in April 2025. It’s a turn-based role-playing game, though, so it suits a committed group that enjoys slower, story-driven play more than the action picks above.

    Quick comparison

    GamePlayersCouch co-opCrossplayCopies neededPrice
    Split Fiction2YesPS5, Xbox, PC, Switch 2One (Friend’s Pass)$49.99 list
    Helldivers 2Up to 4NoPS5, Xbox, PCOne per player$39.99
    Monster Hunter WildsUp to 4NoPS5, Xbox, PCOne per player$69.99 at launch
    Overcooked! All You Can EatUp to 4YesAll platformsOne per console or PC$49.99 at launch
    GTA OnlineVaries by heist (many up to 4)NoNoneOne per playerIncluded with GTA V

    Who this isn’t for

    If you’re looking for competitive multiplayer, such as battle royales or ranked shooters, this list isn’t for you; every pick here is about playing on the same team. And if you want a game to play alone, skip Split Fiction, which can’t be played solo, and Helldivers 2, which is at its best with a full squad.

    Bottom line

    Match the game to your group. Two people: Split Fiction, with one copy. Four friends online: Helldivers 2 for chaos or Monster Hunter Wilds for big hunts. A full couch: Overcooked! All You Can Eat. A crew that already lives in Los Santos: GTA Online heists. Check crossplay and copies before anyone buys, and you’ll avoid the most common co-op disappointment of all: finding out halfway through setup that you can’t actually play together.

  • Where to Buy Game Keys Safely

    Where to Buy Game Keys Safely

    A game key is just a code you redeem on Steam, Epic, GOG or another platform to unlock a game. The problem is that keys are sold everywhere, at wildly different prices, and not all of them were obtained legitimately. Buy from the wrong place and your game can stop working months later.

    Short answer: buy from the platform itself (Steam, GOG, Epic, the PlayStation Store or the Microsoft Store) or from an authorized reseller such as Humble, Fanatical or Green Man Gaming. IsThereAnyDeal is the quickest first check, because it only lists stores it has verified as authorized. Treat key marketplaces such as G2A, Kinguin and Eneba, where third-party sellers list keys, as the higher-risk option.

    Authorized stores vs. key marketplaces

    An authorized store gets its keys directly from the publisher or an official distributor. A key marketplace is a platform where third-party sellers list keys, so the marketplace itself usually isn’t the one selling to you.

    When you buy from an authorized reseller, the key entered the retail chain through a channel the publisher approved, and you’re buying from the store directly.

    Marketplaces work differently. The site connects you with a seller, and you’re relying on that marketplace’s seller checks and sourcing rules rather than on a direct publisher relationship. Most marketplaces now require sellers to be verified businesses, but keys that were bought fraudulently have reached resale sites in the past. The developer of Factorio, for example, revoked more than 300 keys that had been bought with stolen credit cards, after buyers had already activated them. Steam’s own support pages confirm that publishers can revoke fraudulently obtained keys, which removes the game from your library. If that happens, getting your money back depends on the marketplace’s refund rules, the seller and the evidence you can provide.

    Safe places to buy PC game keys

    The platform’s own store is the lowest-risk option. Beyond that, these long-running resellers are listed as authorized by IsThereAnyDeal.

    • Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store and the Microsoft Store: buying directly from the platform carries the least risk, and all of them run regular sales.
    • Publisher stores, such as the EA app and the Ubisoft Store, sell their own games directly.
    • Humble Store: best known for its pay-what-you-want bundles, with a regular storefront as well.
    • Fanatical: frequent sales and bundles, often with Steam keys at a discount.
    • Green Man Gaming: a long-running authorized store for PC and Mac games.
    • GamersGate, Gamesplanet, GameBillet, Nuuvem, WinGameStore and IndieGala: smaller authorized stores that sometimes beat the bigger names on price.

    Some publishers also publish their own list of approved sellers. Ubisoft, for example, keeps a list of approved digital distributors on its support site and warns that keys from retailers without an agreement can be revoked, so if you’re buying a specific publisher’s game, it’s worth checking theirs.

    One thing to know about refunds: if you buy a Steam key from another store, Steam can’t refund it. Refunds go through the store you bought from, so check its policy before you buy.

    How to check an unfamiliar key site

    Search for the game on IsThereAnyDeal. If the store you’re looking at isn’t covered there, don’t assume it’s authorized: check the publisher’s approved-seller list or the store’s own sourcing claims before you buy.

    IsThereAnyDeal says it only covers shops it considers authorized, meaning their keys come from publishers or official distributors, and that it deliberately leaves out marketplaces and grey-market sites. It also shows each game’s current price across those stores and its price history, so you’ll see right away whether a deal is genuinely good. A store can be missing for harmless reasons too, which is why the next step is checking further rather than writing it off. Price-comparison sites like gg.deals also list key marketplaces, but they separate them from official stores, so pay attention to which section a price comes from.

    Warning signs worth a closer look

    Third-party seller listings, prices far below every authorized store, region restrictions and anything that asks you to use a VPN (virtual private network) to activate are all reasons to slow down and check.

    • A key “sold by” a third-party seller. That means you’re on a marketplace, so you need to judge both the marketplace and the seller, not just the price.
    • A price far below every authorized store. That’s a reason to check the seller, the region and the source more carefully. It isn’t proof the key is illegitimate, but authorized stores rarely undercut each other by huge margins on new releases.
    • Region-locked keys. A key meant for another region may not activate on your account at all.
    • Instructions to use a VPN to activate. Disguising your location to get around regional restrictions breaks Steam’s Subscriber Agreement, and Valve says that can cost you access to your account.
    • Optional paid “buyer protection.” Some marketplaces still sell it; Kinguin, for example, offers an optional paid Buyer Protection add-on. Policies vary, and G2A dropped its old paid Shield program, so don’t assume you need to pay extra for basic refund rights.

    Buying codes for PS5 and Xbox

    Consoles use digital codes too. Buy from the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store, or from a major retailer when the retailer itself is the seller, and check the code’s platform and region before you buy.

    Big retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and Target are safe sources for game codes and gift cards, as long as the listing is sold by the retailer itself rather than a third-party seller on its site. Region rules differ by platform: PlayStation codes generally need to match your account’s region, while Xbox rules vary by product. GTA6 is a good example. Its boxed copies contain a download code rather than a disc, and Rockstar says the PlayStation codes are region-restricted while the Xbox codes are not region-locked. If you’re planning to pick it up, our guide to the best games to play while waiting for GTA6 covers the editions and pre-order details.

    Check GTA VI on Amazon

    Quick comparison

    Where you buyWhere keys come fromRisk of a revoked keyBest for
    Platform stores (Steam, GOG, Epic, PS Store, Microsoft Store)The platform itselfLowestMaximum safety
    Authorized resellers (Humble, Fanatical, Green Man Gaming and others)Publishers and official distributorsVery lowSales and bundles
    Key marketplaces (G2A, Kinguin, Eneba and similar)Third-party sellersHigherBuyers who accept the risk

    Who this isn’t for

    If you already buy from marketplaces, know the risks and are comfortable with them, this guide won’t change your mind, and that’s your call to make. It’s also not a guide to finding the lowest possible price regardless of source. For that, our guide to finding the best deals on open-world games covers how to time purchases around legitimate sales.

    Bottom line

    Buy from the platform or an authorized reseller, check unfamiliar stores against IsThereAnyDeal and the publisher’s own seller list, and treat a key that’s dramatically cheaper than everywhere else as a reason to look closer. Waiting for a real sale at an authorized store usually gets you a good price without the risk.

  • Best Games to Play While Waiting for GTA6

    Best Games to Play While Waiting for GTA6

    GTA6 arrives on November 19, 2026, which leaves roughly six to seven weeks to fill. Most “games to play while you wait” lists ignore the three things that actually decide whether a pick works right now: whether it runs on the PS5 or Xbox Series X|S you’ll play GTA6 on, how long it takes to finish, and what it costs. This guide is built around those.

    Short answer: Mafia: The Old Country is the best pick you can realistically finish before launch, at around 13 hours. Red Dead Redemption 2 is the best preview of how Rockstar builds a world, if you can give it about eight hours a week. Cyberpunk 2077 is the best modern crime city, and Forza Horizon 6 is the pick for Xbox players who mostly want to drive.

    How we chose

    Every pick runs on PS5 or Xbox Series X|S (GTA6 is console-only at launch), scratches a specific part of the GTA itch, and can be finished, or at least properly enjoyed, before November 19.

    GTA6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only, and Rockstar hasn’t announced a PC version. That’s why we focused on games you can play on the same console. Story lengths below come from published reviews and guides, and they’re for the main story at a normal pace; side content adds a lot more.

    The picks

    Best to finish before launch: Mafia: The Old Country

    A focused, cinematic crime story set in 1900s Sicily that PCGamesN’s reviewer finished in about 13.5 hours. It’s the one pick here you can comfortably complete with weeks to spare.

    Hangar 13 deliberately built The Old Country as a tight, linear story rather than a sprawling sandbox, following a young laborer, Enzo, as he rises through a crime family. That makes it less of a GTA-style playground and more of a playable gangster film, which is exactly why it fits this window: you get a complete crime story without starting something you’ll abandon on November 19.

    Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. Price: launched at $49.99 in August 2025 and is often discounted now.

    Check Mafia: The Old Country on Amazon

    Best preview of Rockstar’s design: Red Dead Redemption 2

    Rockstar’s last big open world is the closest thing to a preview of how GTA6 is likely to feel. The story runs about 45 to 50 hours, which is doable before launch at roughly eight hours a week.

    Red Dead Redemption 2 comes from the same studio, and its living world, side characters and attention to detail are a big part of why expectations for GTA6 are so high. GameSpot put the main story at about 45 to 50 hours, so it’s a commitment, but a manageable one if you start now.

    One thing to know on current consoles: Red Dead Redemption 2 runs on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S through backward compatibility, capped at 30 fps (frames per second). A native current-gen upgrade has been rumored for a long time, but as of early October 2026 Rockstar hasn’t announced one. (Don’t confuse it with the original Red Dead Redemption, which did get a native PS5 and Xbox Series X|S release in December 2025.)

    Platforms: PS4 and Xbox One versions, playable on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S; PC. Price: varies, and it’s frequently discounted.

    Check Red Dead Redemption 2 on Amazon

    Best modern crime city: Cyberpunk 2077

    A dense, neon-lit city full of gangs, fixers and side jobs, which is the closest any game gets to GTA’s urban chaos with a stronger story. Expect roughly 20 to 30 hours if you focus on the story, or around 40 with regular side content.

    Cyberpunk 2077 had a famously rough launch in 2020, but years of updates and the Phantom Liberty expansion turned its reputation around. If you skipped it back then, the current version is a very different game. Night City rewards exactly the kind of wandering GTA players enjoy, and its driving, gunplay and side jobs keep the loop varied.

    Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. Price: varies; the Ultimate Edition bundles the base game with Phantom Liberty.

    Check Cyberpunk 2077 on Amazon

    Best for driving (Xbox and PC): Forza Horizon 6

    One of the highest-rated games of 2026, with a Metascore of about 90, set across Japan with more than 550 cars at launch. It’s included with Game Pass, but PlayStation owners will have to wait.

    If cruising and racing are your favorite parts of GTA, Forza Horizon 6 is the best open-world driving game available. It launched on May 19, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and PC. Playground Games has said the PS5 version is coming later in 2026, but there’s no date yet, so don’t plan your next six weeks around it if you’re on PlayStation.

    Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC (PS5 version announced, no date). Price: included with Game Pass Ultimate on Xbox, or PC Game Pass on PC.

    The warm-up: GTA V and GTA Online

    If you’d rather stay in Los Santos until you move to Vice City, GTA V’s story and GTA Online’s heists are still the most direct way to keep your GTA muscles warm.

    GTA V runs natively on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. If you’re jumping back into GTA Online, our guide to making money fast and our heists ranked by payout cover what’s worth your time after this year’s payout changes. On PC, our GTA V mods guide covers what still works after the Enhanced update.

    A big one to approach with caution: Crimson Desert

    Crimson Desert, released March 19, 2026, shows up on a lot of these lists because its world is enormous. It’s a fantasy game rather than a crime sandbox, though, its reviews were positive but noticeably cooler than for the other picks here (about 77 to 78 on Metacritic, depending on platform), and it’s a very long game. If your goal is to finish something before November 19, it’s the wrong pick.

    Also consider

    If you specifically want another modern-city crime sandbox, Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition (Hong Kong, with strong hand-to-hand combat) and Watch Dogs 2 (San Francisco, with hacking) are older PS4 and Xbox One-era games that play on current consoles through backward compatibility, and both are usually cheap.

    Quick comparison

    GamePlatformsMain story lengthPriceBest for
    Mafia: The Old CountryPS5, Xbox Series X|S, PCAbout 13 hoursLaunched at $49.99Finishing before launch
    Red Dead Redemption 2PS5 and Xbox Series X|S (backward compatible), PCAbout 45 to 50 hoursVariesRockstar’s world design
    Cyberpunk 2077PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PCAbout 20 to 30 hours (40 with side content)VariesA modern crime city
    Forza Horizon 6Xbox Series X|S, PCOpen-endedGame PassDriving
    GTA V and GTA OnlinePS5, Xbox Series X|S, PCOngoingVariesStaying in the series

    If you haven’t pre-ordered GTA6 yet

    The Standard Edition costs $79.99 and the Ultimate Edition $99.99. Anything bought before November 20 includes the Vintage Vice City Pack, and boxed copies contain a download code rather than a disc at launch.

    Rockstar opened pre-orders on June 25, 2026, through the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Rockstar Store and retailers including Amazon. The Ultimate Edition’s extra $20 adds in-game vehicles, weapons, clothing and two exclusive side activities. Digital pre-orders can preload from November 12, a week before launch. Boxed copies contain a download code rather than a disc; they become available from November 12, and codes redeemed before launch start preloading then too. Digital pre-orders on the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store also include a free month of GTA+, which renews at the regular price unless you cancel.

    Check GTA VI pre-orders on Amazon

    Who this isn’t for

    If you only play on PC, GTA6 won’t be available to you at launch, so a “while you wait” list isn’t really the question; our PC vs Console comparison covers the timing. And if you want an exact GTA clone, nothing here is one. Each pick nails a different part of what makes GTA fun.

    Bottom line

    Short on time? Play Mafia: The Old Country. Want the best preview of what Rockstar does? Start Red Dead Redemption 2 this week. Craving a city to cause trouble in? Cyberpunk 2077. On Xbox and love driving? Forza Horizon 6 is already on Game Pass. Whichever you choose, start now: November 19 will come fast.

  • How to Find the Best Deals on Open-World Games

    How to Find the Best Deals on Open-World Games

    Most “best deals” articles are really just a list of whatever happens to be on sale the week they were published, useful for about five days, then completely outdated. This guide covers the actual methods that work year-round, so it’s still useful whether you’re reading this during a major sale or in the dead period between them.

    Short answer: track your wishlist instead of browsing sale pages manually, check a game’s price history before assuming a “sale” price is actually good, and know the seasonal sale calendar so you’re not buying at random moments.

    Use your wishlist, not manual browsing

    Steam’s wishlist feature automatically flags discounts on games you’ve already marked as wanting, which is a far more efficient way to catch deals than scrolling through hundreds of sale listings.

    When a wishlisted game goes on sale, Steam surfaces it directly rather than making you hunt for it among everything else discounted that week. If you’re serious about catching good prices without wasting time, this is the single highest-leverage habit to build.

    Check price history before trusting the discount

    A “50% off” tag means nothing on its own, checking a game’s price history tells you whether this is actually its best price or just a routine discount dressed up to look exciting.

    Open the game’s page and review its price history chart to compare the current discount against previous sales. A lot of “deals” are the same discount that game has run five times before, not a genuinely rare drop. This single step separates an informed purchase from an impulse one.

    Know the seasonal sale calendar

    Major storefronts run predictable seasonal sales (typically summer, autumn, and winter), plus themed events throughout the year, timing your purchases around these beats random browsing.

    Steam in particular runs a recurring pattern of major seasonal sales alongside smaller themed events tied to specific genres throughout the year. Newer releases (games out less than six months) rarely get steep discounts yet, so if you’re eyeing something recent, patience genuinely pays off here.

    Check beyond Steam, carefully

    Storefronts like Fanatical and Green Man Gaming sometimes beat Steam’s own sale prices on the same game, but stick to established, reputable sellers, not unverified gray-market key sites.

    Established digital storefronts occasionally undercut Steam’s own pricing on identical games, worth a quick price comparison before buying, especially on bigger titles. That said, this is different from buying through unverified third-party key resellers promising suspiciously low prices, that’s a separate safety question we cover in our guide on where to buy game keys safely.

    Use the refund window as a safety net

    Steam’s refund policy (under 2 hours of playtime, within 14 days of purchase) means you can genuinely test a sale purchase before fully committing.

    This isn’t a loophole to abuse, but it does mean a discounted impulse buy carries less risk than it might seem, if it turns out to not be for you, you have a real window to get your money back.

    Who this isn’t for

    If you only buy games at full price on release day regardless of cost, none of this changes your approach, and that’s a legitimate choice if waiting isn’t worth it to you. This guide is for players willing to wait for genuine value in exchange for patience.

    Bottom line

    Build your wishlist, check price history before trusting a discount tag, and know the seasonal rhythm instead of buying at random. Genuine deals are a matter of timing and information, not luck.

  • GTA V Hidden Easter Eggs You’ve Probably Missed

    GTA V Hidden Easter Eggs You’ve Probably Missed

    Rockstar has been stuffing GTA games with secrets since the series started, but GTA V took it further than any entry before it. Some of these are things you’ll stumble into during a normal playthrough. Others took the community years of coordinate-mapping and datamining to actually crack.

    Short answer: the Mount Chiliad mystery is the single biggest and most-discussed secret in the game, a cryptic mural connected to years of UFO theories. Beyond that, the most reliably documented finds are the game’s UFO sightings, the Mount Gordo ghost, and Bigfoot, all genuinely real, not urban legend.

    The Mount Chiliad Mystery

    A cryptic mural on Mount Chiliad has fueled UFO theories and fan debate since GTA V launched, and it remains one of the longest-running unsolved mysteries in the game.

    The mural itself shows a series of symbols that fans have spent years trying to decode, tied to the game’s broader UFO and alien content. Nobody has definitively cracked what it “means,” which is exactly why it’s stayed the community’s biggest ongoing obsession.

    UFO Sightings

    GTA V has multiple genuine UFO-related secrets, including sightings that require 100% game completion plus specific in-game weather and time conditions.

    Several UFO sightings exist across the map, including an underwater UFO wreck. The most reliable versions require you to have completed the game 100% first, then wait for rain at 3 AM in-game time at specific locations. This isn’t a rumor, it’s one of the more consistently documented secrets across the GTA community.

    The Mount Gordo Ghost

    Visit the top of Mount Gordo between 11 PM and midnight in-game time, and you may encounter the ghostly apparition of Jolene Cranley-Evans.

    This is a genuine scripted encounter, not a glitch, tied to a dark backstory involving her murder. Timing matters here, outside that specific hour-long window, you won’t see anything.

    Bigfoot

    Bigfoot sightings, a running joke across the GTA series since San Andreas, actually became real, findable content in GTA V.

    Players spent years searching for Bigfoot in earlier GTA games with nothing to show for it. GTA V finally delivered on the joke with genuine, documented sightings in the game’s forested areas.

    Frozen Alien in North Yankton

    During the game’s Prologue mission, a frozen alien body is visible under a bridge in North Yankton, and it’s still there years later during “Bury the Hatchet.”

    While escaping the bank heist in the Prologue, detour toward the frozen river and drive under the bridge, an alien body is clearly visible frozen in the ice. You only get a few seconds before the mission’s chase route forces you to move on. Remarkably, it’s still there when the story returns to North Yankton nearly a decade later.

    The LOST Hatch

    A hidden hatch exists in the game world as a direct reference to the TV show Lost, complete with the same numeric sequence fans of the show will recognize immediately.

    The Epsilon Program

    A satirical cult questline lets you join the Epsilon Program, GTA’s long-running parody of Scientology-style religious movements, first introduced back in GTA San Andreas.

    Playing along involves wearing robes, donating in-game money, and performing deliberately absurd rituals, all part of Rockstar’s ongoing satire rather than a random side quest.

    Quick reference

    Easter EggLocationHow to Trigger
    Mount Chiliad MuralMount ChiliadJust visit and look, still unsolved
    UFO SightingsMultiple, including underwater100% completion, rain, 3 AM
    Mount Gordo GhostMount Gordo peakVisit between 11 PM and midnight
    BigfootForested areasExplore at night
    Frozen AlienNorth Yankton, under a bridgeDuring the Prologue mission
    LOST HatchHidden locationFind and interact with it
    Epsilon ProgramStoryline questlineFollow the in-game prompts

    Who this isn’t for

    If you’re looking for confirmed GTA6 easter eggs, this isn’t that article, GTA6 hasn’t released yet, and any site claiming “confirmed” secrets before launch is working from trailer speculation, not verified in-game content. This guide covers GTA V specifically, a game that’s actually out and fully explorable.

    Bottom line

    Start with the Mount Chiliad mural if you want the game’s biggest ongoing mystery, then work through the UFO sightings and Mount Gordo ghost if you’re after content that’s genuinely confirmed and repeatable, not just fan theory.

    If you’re spending this much time exploring Los Santos, it’s worth checking out our guides on GTA V mods if you’re on PC, or GTA Online’s best money-making methods if you’re ready to move from single-player secrets into the online side of the game.

  • Best High-End Prebuilt Gaming PC for GTA V & Open-World Gaming in 2026

    Best High-End Prebuilt Gaming PC for GTA V & Open-World Gaming in 2026

    Building your own PC is still the cheaper route if you’ve got the patience for it. But if you’d rather skip the compatibility research and just get something that runs GTA V at max settings the day it arrives, a prebuilt makes a lot of sense in 2026. The category’s genuinely gotten better, current-gen GPUs, fast NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) storage, and real warranty coverage instead of the overpriced, underspecced systems that used to give prebuilts a bad name.

    Short answer: for most open-world gamers, a system built around an RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 5080 with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D hits the sweet spot, enough headroom for 1440p ultra settings with ray tracing, without paying flagship prices. Only step up to an RTX 5090 build if you’re specifically chasing native 4K with everything maxed out.

    What actually matters for open-world gaming specifically

    RAM (Random Access Memory) and storage speed matter more for open-world games than most buyers expect — 32GB of RAM and a fast NVMe SSD (Solid State Drive) prevent the stutter and pop-in that a good GPU alone can’t fix.

    GPU is the obvious first stop, but open-world games lean harder on a few other specs than most people expect.

    RAM matters more here than in a lot of genres. Open-world titles stream huge amounts of data continuously as you move through the map, and 16GB is genuinely the floor now, not the target. 32GB gives you real comfort, especially if you’re streaming or running Discord and a browser alongside the game.

    Storage speed isn’t optional either. A slow SATA SSD or, worse, a mechanical drive, will cause stutter, texture pop-in, and long load times in any modern open-world title. A fast NVMe SSD with at least 1TB of space is the baseline, 2TB if you keep more than one or two large games installed at once, since current AAA titles routinely eat 100+ GB each.

    CPU matters less than people assume once you’re past a certain threshold, but the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has become the default recommendation across the board this year for a real reason, its extra cache genuinely helps with the kind of physics and NPC simulation open-world games lean on, not just raw clock speed.

    Picks by tier

    The mid-range tier (~$1,800–$2,900) offers the best actual value right now, an RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 5080 paired with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D covers real 1440p ultra performance without flagship pricing.

    Entry point (~$750): The iBUYPOWER Scale SCA5N4602, running an RTX 4060 with 16GB of RAM, covers solid 1080p performance with room to upgrade later. NZXT’s BLD prebuilt service also has a strong reputation at this price point for build quality and clean cable management, worth a look if you want something that looks as good inside the case as it performs.

    Mid-range, the sweet spot (~$1,800–$2,900): This is where prebuilts offer the best actual value right now. Look for an RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 5080 paired with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, 32GB of DDR5, and a 1TB+ NVMe SSD. The Panorama RTX 5080 build (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, 64GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe SSD) hits this exact configuration. The CyberPowerPC Gamer Supreme (same Ryzen 7 9800X3D + RTX 5080 pairing, 32GB DDR5) has also been spotted in the $2,299–$2,850 range depending on sales timing.

    High-end, no compromises (~$4,000–$7,500+): If you want native 4K with ray tracing maxed out, you’re looking at RTX 5090 territory. Corsair’s higher-end configurations and NZXT’s build-on-demand service both offer RTX 5090 builds paired with a Ryzen 9 9950X3D, typically landing in the $5,500–$7,500 range. Origin PC’s Millennium line is also a longstanding name in this exact space if you want a fully custom configuration built to order rather than a fixed spec sheet.

    Quick comparison by tier

    TierPriceGPUCPURAMBest For
    Entry~$750RTX 4060Varies16GBSolid 1080p, room to upgrade later
    Mid-range (sweet spot)~$1,800–$2,900RTX 5070 Ti / 5080Ryzen 7 9800X3D32GBMost open-world gamers in 2026
    High-end~$4,000–$7,500+RTX 5090Ryzen 9 9950X3D32GB+Native 4K, ray tracing maxed out

    What about GTA6 on PC?

    Here’s something worth being straight about, since a lot of “best PC for GTA6” content floating around right now glosses over it or leans on unverified leaked specs to make a sale: GTA6 has only been confirmed for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, launching November 19, 2026. Rockstar has not announced a PC version, a PC release date, or official PC system requirements.

    Based on the pattern from Rockstar’s past two major releases, GTA V took about 18 months to reach PC after its console launch, and Red Dead Redemption 2 took roughly 13 months, a realistic estimate for a GTA6 PC release lands somewhere in late 2027 to 2028, not day one alongside the console launch.

    That doesn’t mean a high-end PC purchase is wasted if you’re excited for GTA6 specifically. Everything in the mid-range and high-end tiers above will comfortably run GTA V Enhanced at max settings today, handle whatever else you’re playing in the meantime, and still be relevant hardware whenever GTA6 does arrive on PC. Just don’t buy today under the assumption you’ll be playing GTA6 on it next week.

    Who this isn’t for

    If you already own a capable gaming PC from the last couple years, this guide isn’t telling you to upgrade, a mid-range build from 2023-2024 likely still handles GTA V Enhanced and current open-world titles fine. This is aimed at genuinely new buyers or systems old enough that they’re actually bottlenecking your gameplay, not a general “upgrade now” push.

    Bottom line

    Most open-world gamers should land in the mid-range tier, an RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 5080 system gives you real 1440p ultra performance without flagship pricing. Save the RTX 5090 tier for a genuine 4K target, not just future-proofing. And if GTA6 on PC is the reason you’re shopping, temper expectations on timing, this is a purchase for GTA V and everything else you’re playing between now and whenever Rockstar actually confirms a PC release.