Grand Theft Auto VI is set to launch Nov. 19, with Newzoo projecting $3.25 billion to $5.2 billion in first-week sales on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S—against a reported $1.5 billion budget.

Take-Two Interactive head Strauss Zelnick says pre-orders are far above expectations, but cautions that the company will not call the game a success before launch; some industry workers expect to take release day off.

The story follows Jason and Lucia as they become caught up in a criminal conspiracy across the state of Leonida and depend on each other to survive.

Rockstar Games co-studio head Rob Nelson has said the main story should take about 80 hours, and described the franchise’s largest map yet, with players able to shape details such as the protagonists’ relationship and physiques.

Beyond its story, the franchise’s signature is an open world that gives players room to explore and shape their own experiences, rather than follow a strictly linear path—a sense of agency industry figures say has helped set GTA apart across entertainment.

Netflix nonfiction executive Brandon Riegg likewise described the game as an immersive alternate world where players can follow the narrative or simply spend time in the setting on their own terms.

Analysts say the game’s reception could affect how the public and entertainment industries view video games, while testing whether Rockstar can preserve its rebellious identity as the franchise enters the mainstream.

Meanwhile, Rockstar employees are continuing their unionization efforts with public support from SAG-AFTRA; the campaign is framed as a push for recognition after years of labor, as Take-Two stands to earn billions from the game.