GTA 6 Scalpers Are Finding Buyers on eBay Despite Rockstar's Commitment to a Digital Release
· IGN
Rockstar Games fans seem to be paying eBay scalpers extra for pre-order copies of GTA 6 – even if there isn't much of a reason to.
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Listings for pricier versions of Rockstar's new Grand Theft Auto game have already started popping up on the auction website after pre-orders went live for all on June 25. While the retail price for the standard edition is currently locked in at $80, some scalpers have managed to successfully flip their pre-ordered copy for around $90, with some going for even more.
It's something that usually wouldn't come as much of a surprise in the gaming space, especially considering this particular release is one fans have anticipated for more than 13 years. What many already know, however, is that there isn't actually anything stopping players from pre-ordering GTA 6 without an inflated price.
Much to the dismay of physical game collectors everywhere, GTA 6 will only be available as a digital title after Rockstar announced it was ditching discs for its November launch. For those who just need to have that box in hand come this fall, you can still purchase a physical edition, which only comes with a download code inside its case.
That effectively means players won't have to deal with stock shortages since all versions of the game will be available digitally anyway. Even supply for the physical box seems to be holding up, too, as major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Target suggest fans can check out their online marketplaces to pre-order code-in-box copies at the time of this story's publication. For some reason, players – and scalpers – are still heading to eBay.
Interestingly, these eBay listings seem to include both physical boxes and digital copies of the game, with some sellers pointing out that those who buy the latter will not need to pay any shipping fees when the launch arrives. Those purchasing physical copies via this method will also be subject to delivery fees on top of the already steeper price they're paying.
Whether you're buying directly from Rockstar or purchasing a copy for a little extra on eBay for…some reason, GTA 6 has a release date of November 19, 2026, for PS5 and Xbox Series X | S. Meanwhile, a new report has claimed that Rockstar has no plans to ever release a disc for GTA 6. For more on scalpers, you can see how some are trying to flip Valve's new Steam Machine.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).