GTA 6 Purchase Intent Hits a Record 29% Says Circana

Nearly 1 in 3 US console and PC gamers say they plan to buy it. Circana flagged the record in February, and now it has a number.

By Dana WhitlockPublished 28 Oct 2026Last updated 28 Oct 20263 min read

a duffel bag of cash, banknote stacks, a patterned pistol and a submachine gun on the back seat of a car at night in a Rockstar Games image for GTA 6 — Image: Rockstar Games. Official promotional image used for news reporting.

The short version

Circana says GTA 6 holds 29% purchase intent among US console and PC gamers in its PlayerPulse survey, the highest it has recorded for a video game, in a press release dated 28 October 2026. Circana's February forecast already called it a record without a number. Purchase intent is what people say they plan to buy, not preorders or sales, and Circana does not split the figure by platform.

Quick answer

What is GTA 6's purchase intent?

Circana puts GTA 6 at 29% purchase intent among US console and PC gamers, the highest it has recorded for any video game. In plain terms, nearly 1 in 3 told its PlayerPulse survey they plan to buy it. That is a survey answer, so it does not count preorders or sales.

Nearly 1 in 3 US console and PC gamers say they plan to buy GTA 6. That is the latest reading from the research firm Circana, three weeks before launch.

Circana published the 29% figure in a press release on 28 October, with analyst Mat Piscatella on the byline. It calls GTA 6 "the most anticipated video game release in Circana's tracking history".

What is GTA 6's purchase intent?

GTA 6's US purchase intent is 29%, from Circana's PlayerPulse survey. It measures people who say they plan to buy.

Circana has previously described PlayerPulse as a monthly online survey of US gamers aged 13 and over who played in the past 30 days, in posts Piscatella shared. The release gives no sample size or survey month for the 29% reading.

Measure	What it counts	GTA 6 figure	Source
Purchase intent	US console and PC gamers who say they plan to buy	29%	Circana, 28 October
Preorders	Estimated digital preorders on PS5 and Xbox	6.92 million by 27 October	Sensor Tower estimate
Sales	Copies sold	None yet, launch is 19 November	Rockstar Games release date

Is GTA 6's purchase intent a record?

Yes, by Circana's measure, though the record itself is not new. Circana's 2026 forecast on 11 February already said GTA 6 "holds the highest purchase intent ever recorded" in its tracking, without a number.

The 29% figure is the new part, along with fresh comments from Piscatella.

Does Circana's survey include PC players?

Yes, Circana's base counts US PC gamers alongside console players. GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and Rockstar Games has announced no PC version.

GamesBeat reported a PC release in early 2027, citing anonymous sources. Circana does not split the 29% by platform, so the figure tells us nothing about PC players buying at launch.

How does GTA 6 compare with Call of Duty?

It is roughly double. Piscatella put Modern Warfare 4 at 15% and the Zelda Ocarina of Time remake at 10.4% as of August, VGC reported, as covered in our Activision story.

Those readings are two months older, and Circana did not make this comparison. So the gap is a rough guide.

Will GTA 6 sell more PS5s?

Piscatella expects it to help, with demand spilling into consoles, accessories and subscriptions.

He says many people who have not yet upgraded their console "may choose to purchase a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series specifically to play the title".

That is a forecast for the launch quarter. On 23 October he posted on Bluesky that Marvel's Wolverine was "the primary driver" of September's US PS5 rise, with GTA 6 "likely playing roles". One view looks back at September, the other ahead to Black Friday. Our PS5 sales report has those numbers.

Why does 29% matter for players?

It points to a crowded launch. Piscatella expects GTA 6 to be "a major driver of software sales, hardware upgrades" through the fourth quarter, as retailers head into Black Friday.

GTA 5 shows how long that pull can last. Circana says it is the best selling premium game in its US tracked history.

For demand you can count, Sensor Tower estimated 6.92 million digital preorders by 27 October, as our preorders report explains. Every edition and store price is in our GTA 6 price guide. Rockstar Games and Take Two Interactive have not commented on Circana's figures.

thegta6news.com is a fan news site and is not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take Two Interactive.

Frequently asked questions

What is GTA 6's purchase intent?

29% among US console and PC gamers, according to Circana's PlayerPulse survey in a press release dated 28 October 2026. Circana says that is the highest it has recorded for a video game.

Does 29% purchase intent mean 29% have preordered GTA 6?

No. Purchase intent is a survey answer about plans to buy. It does not count preorders or sales. Sensor Tower separately estimated 6.92 million digital preorders by 27 October.

Does Circana's GTA 6 survey include PC players?

Yes, the base is US console and PC gamers, and Circana does not split the 29% by platform. GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and no PC version has been announced.

How does GTA 6 compare with Modern Warfare 4?

Circana's Mat Piscatella put Modern Warfare 4 at 15% US purchase intent as of August, VGC reported. GTA 6's 29% is about double, though the figures come from different months and Circana did not compare them.