Rockstar Games has just dropped a bombshell that has left gamers worldwide with mixed feelings: official pre-orders have opened for the Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) deluxe collector’s box, priced at a staggering $399.99 (approximately 2,900 RMB).
However, when you eagerly unbox this hefty package, you’ll find a treasure trove of Vice City merchandise—ranging from the expected to the unexpected—yet notably absent is a game disc or even a digital activation code.
Officially titled “The Goodtime State – Vice City Collection,” this limited-edition merchandise set draws its design inspiration from Macca the Gator, a popular TV show within the game’s fictional state of Leonida. Shipping is scheduled for November 19, coinciding with the game’s official global release.
So, what exactly do you get for $400? Setting aside the glaring issue of the package not actually including the game itself, Rockstar clearly put a lot of thought into the collaborations and product selection for this 11-piece merchandise bundle:
6-inch “Gator-McCluck” figure: Features a secret twist-open storage compartment in the base;
GTA 6 x Oakley Frogskins sunglasses: Matte black frames with Sapphire Prizm lenses and a pink collaboration logo;
New Era 9FORTY A-Frame cap: Featuring “Vice City” and “Leonida” embroidery details;
Gator-McCluck pink magnetic tray: Can be mounted on a wall or used as a serving tray;
“Leonida Keys” ripstop crossbody bag: Classic black-and-pink contrasting lining with custom zipper pulls;
“Chunkee” Manatee shot glass: Laser-engraved Rockstar logo on the bottom;
Vice City metal stirring spoon & razor-blade shaped keychain;
Set of 9 enamel pins in a custom metal tin;
Set of 9 premium vinyl stickers with a storage pouch;
Double-sided commemorative poster: Original Gator-McCluck artwork on one side, and the full-sized physical map of Leonida—the item players care about most—on the other.
Widespread backlash, but scalpers are laughing all the way to the bank
The news caused an immediate uproar across major gaming communities. Many players quipped: “In the past, buying a Collector’s Edition meant buying the game and getting the merch as a bonus; now it’s evolved into ‘spending 400 bucks on a mystery box of merch, only to have to shell out another 80 bucks just for the right to play the game.'”
Yet, no matter how fierce the online criticism, this limited-edition bundle is destined to sell out instantly. Just like the limited-edition GTA 6 DualSense controller that was snapped up immediately, listings for this merchandise set appeared on secondary markets like eBay shortly after launch—posted by professional scalpers at prices marked up by tens of percent. To be fair, the practice of decoupling the base game from the “Collector’s Edition” didn’t originate with Rockstar. Recent titles like Marathon, Diablo IV, and Borderlands 4 have all experimented with selling expensive physical merchandise bundles separately from the game itself; this approach spares digital-only players the hassle of reselling physical discs while allowing publishers to avoid the logistical burden of manufacturing separate batches of physical copies for different console platforms.
Moreover, a powerhouse like Take-Two (Rockstar’s parent company) has no reason to fear that players might cancel their orders over this. GTA VI has already easily surpassed the $400 million mark in initial pre-order revenue alone. If you want to dive into the gritty streets of Vice City this November, the $400 merchandise bundle is entirely optional—but you will almost certainly pay up for that ticket to the game itself.