GTA 5 Sales Hit 235 Million Copies a Week Before GTA 6
One week before GTA 6 arrives, its predecessor is still selling. In its latest earnings report, Take-Two Interactive revealed that Grand Theft Auto V has sold about 235 million copies worldwide as of September 30, 2026. The full Grand Theft Auto series is now close to 480 million units.
Thirteen years after launch, GTA 5 remains one of the best-selling video games ever made. Here is what the new number means and how it sets the stage for GTA 6.
The new figures
- GTA 5: about 235 million copies sold, as of September 30, 2026.
- Grand Theft Auto series: nearly 480 million units.
- Previous update: just over 230 million, announced in August 2026.
- Earlier in 2026: about 225 million in February.
That works out to roughly five million copies every quarter, a pace that has barely changed for years. Many new releases never sell five million copies in their entire lifetime.
Where GTA 5 ranks
GTA 5 is the third best-selling video game of all time, behind only Tetris and Minecraft. Both of those games have been sold in countless versions across almost every device over decades. GTA 5 reached its total with a mature-rated, big-budget open-world game sold mostly on consoles and PC.
Take-Two has also described GTA 5 as the best-selling title of the past decade in both units and revenue.
Why GTA 5 keeps selling
Three console generations
GTA 5 launched in September 2013 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It came back in 2014 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, reached PC in 2015, and received a new version for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2022. Each release brought in new buyers. If you play on PC, our guide to GTA 5 Enhanced vs Legacy explains which version to choose.
GTA Online
GTA Online is the other big reason. It has received free updates for more than a decade, and a purchase of GTA 5 still includes access to it. Many players buy the game mainly for Online. See our GTA Online in 2026 guide for the current state of the mode.
A catch-up wave before GTA 6
With GTA 6 about to launch, many newer fans are going back to play GTA 5’s story for the first time. Our guides to Michael, Franklin and Trevor, every GTA 5 heist and the three endings are a good starting point if you want to finish it before November 19.
What it means for GTA 6
The size of GTA 5’s audience is the main reason expectations for GTA 6 are so high. Hundreds of millions of people have played a Grand Theft Auto game, and many of them have been waiting for a sequel since 2013. That built-in audience helps explain why GTA 6 has already become the most pre-ordered game ever on both the PlayStation Store and the Microsoft Store. Read more in our report on GTA 6’s pre-order records.
It also helps explain the huge budget. Revenue from GTA 5 and GTA Online paid for years of GTA 6 development. Our article on how much GTA 6 cost to make looks at the numbers.
Will GTA 6 beat GTA 5?
In launch-week revenue, very likely. GTA 5 earned about $1 billion in its first three days in 2013. Analyst forecasts for GTA 6 are several times higher, helped by a bigger audience and higher prices. Our GTA 6 sales forecast covers the main projections.
Beating 235 million lifetime copies is a different challenge. GTA 5 needed 13 years and three console generations to get there. GTA 6 will need a long life, a PC version and a strong online mode to have a chance.
The bottom line
GTA 5 is still selling millions of copies every quarter. Its success built the audience, the money and the expectations that GTA 6 now carries into November 19.