Grand Theft Auto VI debuts 'extended look': What to know

Your next look at the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI has arrived.

Publisher Rockstar Games debuted an extended look at the sixth numbered entry in the massively popular video game franchise on Thursday.

The showcase, which runs for just short of 27 minutes and is available on Rockstar's YouTube channel, gives us our first look at the the sprawling action-adventure game's narrative, gameplay and mechanics.

When is Grand Theft Auto VI coming out?

Grand Theft Auto VI, which is available to pre-order now, will officially release Thursday, Nov. 19, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, according to Rockstar.

What is it about?

Each Grand Theft Auto game takes place in different heavily hyperbolic versions of American cities, and focuses on main characters working their way through the city's world of crime.

Grand Theft Auto VI will take place in Leonida and Vice City, USA, which appears to be a dramatized version of Miami, Florida.

"Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them," a brief synopsis of the game reads. "But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida -- forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive."

Why is Grand Theft Auto such a big deal?

The new release follows more than a decade of anticipation since the 2013 release of Grand Theft Auto V, which has sold 230 million copies, according to franchise owner Take-Two Interactive.

The series started on the original PlayStation and PC in 1997, when it generated controversy due to its violence. In 2001, Grand Theft Auto 3 came to PlayStation 2. It brought the series into 3D and once again caused controversy with violence and sexual content.

In total, the franchise has sold 475 million copies, Take-Two noted.

Will Grand Theft Auto VI be appropriate for children?

No, the game will be completely inappropriate for children due to its violence and depiction of the criminal underworld.

If you're looking for an alternative, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight might be a good option. It's set open-world Lego version of Gotham City, allows you to use vehicles for traversal and is available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC. A Nintendo Switch 2 version comes out on Sept. 18.

Is Grand Theft Auto VI coming out on Switch 2?

There's no indication that Rockstar is planning a Switch 2 version, nor has it announced a PC release.

How much will the game cost?

The new game costs $80, bucking the general new game standard by around $10.

Along with the standard version of game, preorders for the Grand Theft Auto VI: Ultimate Edition were also made available earlier this summer, which include additional in-game items. This version costs $100.

The ultimate edition "amplifies the deepest and most immersive GTA experience yet with an exclusive collection of premium vehicles, weapons, apparel, and action threaded across all aspects of Jason and Lucia's story," Rockstar said.

Pre-ordering either version of the game will allow players to begin pre-loading on Nov. 12 "to ensure they are able to play at launch" on release day a week later, the company noted.

Unlike previous entries in the series, Grand Theft Auto VI won't be released on a disc, according to Rockstar. Physical versions of the game will include a code in the box, and be available from Nov. 12 to support pre-loading.