Guide
Red Dead Redemption 2 Turns 8: What Its Record Launch Suggests for GTA 6
On this page
Current status
- Current status: Anniversary explainer. GTA 6 launches in 24 days.
- Last verified: October 26, 2026.
- Official sources checked: Take-Two's October 30, 2018 announcement, as reported by CNBC and Variety.
- What is confirmed: RDR2's $725M+ three-day sell-through.
- What is not confirmed yet: any GTA 6 sales figures. Nothing official until Take-Two reports.
RDR2's record
Confirmed (Take-Two, via CNBC and Variety): RDR2 made over $725 million in worldwide retail sell-through in its first three days. Because it launched on a Friday, that was also its opening weekend.
Reported (Variety): the same $725M figure, reported as a record-breaking opening weekend (Variety).
Confirmed (Take-Two, via CNBC and Variety): GTA V had made more than $1 billion over its first three days in 2013.
How GTA 6 compares
Analysis: GTA 6 launches on a Thursday (see GTA 6 Thursday November 19 launch) at $79.99 Standard, compared with $59.99 for RDR2. Higher prices and pre-order momentum point to a bigger opening, but analyst numbers are estimates. See Take-Two analyst forecasts.
Confirmed: Take-Two reports earnings on November 9, ten days before launch. Launch sales would show up in a later report. See Take-Two earnings November 9.
Confirmed vs rumored: launch records
| Claim | Status |
|---|---|
| RDR2 launched Oct 26, 2018 | Confirmed |
| RDR2 made $725M+ in 3 days | Confirmed (Take-Two) |
| GTA V made $1B+ in 3 days | Confirmed (Take-Two) |
| GTA 6 will beat both | Analysis/estimate, not a fact yet |
| GTA 6 sales figures | None official |
The bottom line
Analysis: RDR2 and GTA V set the bar. Any GTA 6 "record" claim before Take-Two reports is an estimate.
Sources checked
- CNBC: Red Dead Redemption 2 smashes opening weekend records
- Variety: Red Dead Redemption 2 earns record-breaking $725M opening weekend
Update log: 2026-10-26: Published.
Frequently asked questions
- When did Red Dead Redemption 2 come out?
- October 26, 2018, on PS4 and Xbox One.
- How much did RDR2 make at launch?
- Over $725 million in worldwide retail sell-through in its first three days, according to Take-Two.
- How much did GTA 5 make at launch?
- More than $1 billion in its first three days, according to Take-Two.
Keep exploring GTA 6
Has played every mainline Grand Theft Auto since GTA III in 2001.
Editorial note: GTA6Home is an independent fan resource and is not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive. We track official Rockstar announcements and update this guide whenever the facts change — the “Last updated” date above reflects the latest review. Anything not officially confirmed is labeled per our Editorial Policy.