How did the GTA games become the biggest cultural phenomenon in the entertainment world?

GTA 6 is set to launch on November 19, 2026, with digital sales of over 12 million copies and revenues of one billion dollars before launch. The article reviews the series' history, its cultural impact, and the high expectations for the new game.

On Thursday, November 19, 2026, the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) is expected, the biggest entertainment event since the end of 'Game of Thrones' or 'Avengers: Endgame' in 2019. A professor of economics estimated that about one and a half million Americans plan to miss work on launch day, potentially costing the US economy one billion dollars. Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of developer Rockstar Games, has already generated over one billion dollars from game sales, with Sensor Tower estimating over 12 million digital copies sold. For comparison, GTA 5 crossed the billion-dollar threshold three days after its launch 13 years ago, and has since sold over 230 million copies. The series, which began in 1997, revolutionized the open-world game genre and attracted a broad audience due to its freedom of action and controversial violence. Jason Schreier of Bloomberg explained that the series changed the way developers create game worlds. GTA 6 promises a larger and more vibrant world, advanced graphics, and a Bonnie and Clyde-style story with protagonists Jason and Lucia.