{
  "schemaVersion": "1.3",
  "id": "gta-vi-launch-brief",
  "slug": "gta-vi",
  "product": "Grand Theft Auto VI",
  "title": "Grand Theft Auto VI",
  "job": "Is the date real, do they need to spend, what can they skip.",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-09-13",
  "timezoneNote": "Calendar dates are as published. Unlock clock time is unknown.",
  "lifecycle": {
    "postedAt": "2026-08-29",
    "announcedPlatformReleases": [
      {
        "platform": "PlayStation 5",
        "date": "2026-11-19",
        "sourceIds": [
          "take-two-preorders",
          "rockstar-vi"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "Xbox Series X|S",
        "date": "2026-11-19",
        "sourceIds": [
          "take-two-preorders",
          "rockstar-vi",
          "rockstar-platforms"
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "disclosure": {
    "text": "As an Amazon Associate, NeedFlag earns from qualifying purchases."
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "take-two-preorders",
      "label": "Take-Two: Rockstar Games announces pre-orders",
      "url": "https://taketwointeractivesoftwareinc.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/rockstar-games-announces-pre-orders-grand-theft-auto-vi"
    },
    {
      "id": "rockstar-vi",
      "label": "Rockstar Games — Grand Theft Auto VI",
      "url": "https://www.rockstargames.com/VI"
    },
    {
      "id": "xbox-store",
      "label": "Xbox store listing — Grand Theft Auto VI",
      "url": "https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/grand-theft-auto-vi/9p3h4968grsm"
    },
    {
      "id": "rockstar-platforms",
      "label": "Rockstar Support — platform editions and versions",
      "url": "https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/4QfG4FmZCf5W1gS8jy4UVT/grand-theft-auto-vi-platform-editions-and-versions"
    },
    {
      "id": "rockstar-ugc-policy",
      "label": "Rockstar Support — policy on unauthorized in-game sales / cheating services",
      "url": "https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/7bNaeoMFTV0iUDGhStTXvz/policy-on-posting-copyrighted-rockstar-games-material"
    },
    {
      "id": "cfx-marketplace",
      "label": "Cfx Marketplace (FiveM / RedM scripts and assets)",
      "url": "https://marketplace.cfx.re/"
    },
    {
      "id": "rockstar-vi-media",
      "label": "Rockstar Games — Grand Theft Auto VI media",
      "url": "https://www.rockstargames.com/VI/media"
    },
    {
      "id": "playstation-m2-ssd",
      "label": "PlayStation Support — add an M.2 SSD to PS5",
      "url": "https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/ps5-install-m2-ssd/"
    }
  ],
  "official": [
    {
      "id": "launch-date",
      "label": "Launch date",
      "value": "Thursday 19 November 2026",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "take-two-preorders",
        "rockstar-vi"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "platforms",
      "label": "Launch platforms",
      "value": "PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Xbox Series S counts. Console-only at launch. PC is unannounced.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "take-two-preorders",
        "rockstar-vi",
        "rockstar-platforms"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "esrb-category",
      "label": "ESRB rating",
      "value": "RP",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Rating Pending. Xbox listing: Likely Mature 17+.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "series-s",
      "label": "Xbox Series S",
      "value": "Counts as a valid Xbox platform",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "rockstar-platforms"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "pc-release",
      "label": "PC release",
      "value": "Unannounced",
      "status": "not_announced",
      "notes": "No official PC date.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "take-two-preorders",
        "rockstar-vi"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "price",
      "label": "Standard price",
      "value": "$79.99",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "USD, as published by Take-Two.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "take-two-preorders"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "preorders",
      "label": "Pre-orders",
      "value": "Live as of 25 June 2026",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "take-two-preorders",
        "rockstar-vi"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "preload",
      "label": "Digital preload",
      "value": "12 November 2026",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "take-two-preorders"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "physical",
      "label": "Physical edition",
      "value": "Download code in the box, not a playable disc",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "take-two-preorders"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "game-pass-xcloud",
      "label": "Xbox Game Pass / xCloud at launch",
      "value": "Not announced for launch day",
      "status": "not_announced",
      "notes": "Not a launch-day way to play.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "xbox-cloud-wording",
      "label": "Xbox store “cloud” wording",
      "value": "Cloud saves — not xCloud streaming",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "The store's cloud mention is saves, not streaming.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "xbox-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "install-size",
      "label": "Official install size",
      "value": "Unknown",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "No official GB figure.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "rockstar-vi",
        "take-two-preorders"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "unlock-time",
      "label": "Unlock clock time",
      "value": "Unofficial / unknown",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "Date is confirmed. Unlock hour is not published.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "rockstar-vi",
        "take-two-preorders"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "ingame-rmt",
      "label": "Official real-money sale of in-game items, property, or businesses",
      "value": "Not announced",
      "status": "not_announced",
      "notes": "Unofficial GTA Online trading is against Rockstar rules.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "rockstar-vi",
        "take-two-preorders"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "media": {
    "trailer": {
      "label": "Official trailer",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "kind": "youtube",
      "youtubeId": "tJbzMqJGH4k",
      "pageUrl": "https://www.rockstargames.com/VI",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-30",
      "sourceIds": [
        "rockstar-vi"
      ]
    },
    "still": {
      "label": "Official still",
      "src": "/media/gta-vi/official-still.jpg",
      "credit": "Rockstar Games",
      "pageUrl": "https://www.rockstargames.com/VI/media",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-30",
      "sourceIds": [
        "rockstar-vi-media"
      ]
    }
  },
  "decisions": [
    {
      "id": "buy-now-set",
      "item": "Buy-now set",
      "verdict": "empty",
      "rationale": "Nothing currently earns a yes. Empty buy slots are intentional. No catalog. No affiliate slots until a line is a yes.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "console",
      "item": "Launch console (PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, including Series S)",
      "verdict": "fork",
      "rationale": "Launch day is PS5 or Xbox Series X|S (Series S counts). No console means buy one or wait for an official PC date. Game Pass and xCloud are not a launch-day path.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "rockstar-vi",
        "take-two-preorders",
        "rockstar-platforms",
        "xbox-store"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "game-ps5",
      "item": "Grand Theft Auto VI PS5 Code-in-Box ($79.99)",
      "verdict": "hold",
      "rationale": "Price and date are real. Buy the game after a launch platform is in hand, or after PC is announced.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "take-two-preorders",
        "rockstar-vi"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": true,
        "href": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6K928WL?tag=needflag-20",
        "note": "Amazon Associates."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "game-xbox",
      "item": "Grand Theft Auto VI Xbox Code-in-Box ($79.99)",
      "verdict": "hold",
      "rationale": "Price and date are real. Buy the game after a launch platform is in hand, or after PC is announced.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "take-two-preorders",
        "rockstar-vi",
        "xbox-store"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": true,
        "href": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6K49W6Y?tag=needflag-20",
        "note": "Amazon Associates."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "ssd",
      "item": "Internal SSD / storage upgrade",
      "verdict": "skip",
      "rationale": "No official install size, so no storage upgrade yet.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "rockstar-vi",
        "take-two-preorders"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "headset",
      "item": "Headset",
      "verdict": "skip",
      "rationale": "Not required to play.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "rockstar-vi"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "merch",
      "item": "Merchandise",
      "verdict": "skip",
      "rationale": "Not required to play.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "rockstar-vi"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "unofficial-rmt",
      "item": "Unofficial GTA Online real-money trading",
      "verdict": "skip",
      "rationale": "Against Rockstar rules. Not a way to buy GTA VI property.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "rockstar-ugc-policy"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "cfx-scripts",
      "item": "Cfx Marketplace listings",
      "verdict": "skip",
      "rationale": "FiveM and RedM scripts. Not official GTA VI real estate.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "cfx-marketplace"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "ps5-ssd-sn850x-1tb",
      "item": "PS5 WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe with heatsink 1 TB",
      "verdict": "yes",
      "rationale": "Need if the PS5 is full.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-m2-ssd"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": false,
        "href": null,
        "note": "No paid link."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "ps5-ssd-sn850x-2tb",
      "item": "PS5 WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe with heatsink 2 TB",
      "verdict": "yes",
      "rationale": "Larger option if the PS5 is full.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-m2-ssd"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": false,
        "href": null,
        "note": "No paid link."
      }
    }
  ],
  "openHoles": [
    {
      "id": "install-size-hole",
      "question": "What is the official install size in GB?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "SSD stays Skip until an official size is published.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "rockstar-vi",
        "take-two-preorders"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "unlock-time-hole",
      "question": "What clock time does the game unlock on 19 November 2026?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "Preload (12 Nov) and launch date are known. Unlock hour is not.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "rockstar-vi",
        "take-two-preorders"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "pc-date-hole",
      "question": "What is the official PC release date?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "PC is unannounced. Console-only at launch.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceIds": [
        "rockstar-vi",
        "take-two-preorders"
      ]
    }
  ]
}