Game Informer’s Grand Theft Auto VI cover story, issue 382, goes live digitally on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, for Game Informer subscribers, and the fastest way to read it that day is a Digital Only subscription, listed at $39.99 a year. Print copies follow in the coming weeks, both to subscribers’ mailboxes and to bookstores and newsstands, per Game Informer’s cover reveal.
Below we cover what is in the issue, every way to get it, what each option costs, how long the print copy takes to arrive, and which option makes sense depending on whether you want to read it or keep it.
What Is in the GTA 6 Issue
Game Informer revealed the cover on September 25. The 14-page cover story, written by Marcus Stewart, is built on interviews with several lead designers at Rockstar Games, and it focuses on Leonida, the game’s take on Florida, and Vice City. According to Game Informer, it covers features Rockstar had not shared before:
- Weather systems that simulate Florida’s stormier side, not just endless sunshine
- The amount of wildlife in Leonida, on land, in the air and at sea
- How Rockstar researched Miami and Florida for the setting
The feature comes with 12 new exclusive screenshots. The cover itself is original artwork from Rockstar featuring the two protagonists, Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, which is why Game Informer is pitching the print issue as a collector’s item.
The rest of issue 382 includes Gamescom previews, a Persona 4 Revival feature, a 10-page look at Tides of Annihilation, and reviews of games including Marvel’s Wolverine, Star Wars Zero Company and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave. If you want a second opinion on those, our Marvel’s Wolverine review and Star Wars Zero Company review are both live.
How to Read It on Launch Day (Digital)
The digital edition is the only way to read the cover story on September 29. Here is how:
- Go to Game Informer’s subscribe page.
- Choose Digital Only, listed at $39.99 a year (marked down from $59.99 at the time of writing, US pricing).
- Create or sign in to your Game Informer account and check out.
- On launch day, open Read the Magazine on the website, or use the official Game Informer app, which is on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Digital Only covers 10 issues a year and, per Game Informer, also includes subscriber-only web features, fewer ads, and access to the digital archive of more than 350 back issues. Game Informer’s help page says the digital magazine is available worldwide, so this is the route for anyone outside the countries that get print.
One thing to know before you buy: Game Informer’s store sells annual subscriptions, not single issues. We found no option to buy issue 382 on its own, digital or print, on Game Informer’s site.
How to Get the Print Copy
If you want the physical issue with the Rockstar cover art, choose Print + Digital, listed at $59.99 a year (marked down from $99.99). Game Informer says new subscribers who sign up now receive the GTA VI issue as their first issue, and the subscription also includes everything in the digital plan.
Delivery is where expectations matter:
- Timing: Game Informer’s subscribe page says issues arrive about 3 to 5 weeks after each cover reveal. Its help page is more cautious for brand new subscribers, saying a first issue may take 6 to 8 weeks depending on where you land in the printing cycle.
- Countries: print subscriptions shipped only in the US until August 24, 2026, when Game Informer expanded to a list of about 50 countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and most of Europe.
- Stores: Game Informer says the print edition will reach bookstores and newsstands “in the coming weeks,” but it has not named retailers or a date.
- Limited run: Game Informer says the GTA VI issue will only be available for a limited time, and its help page says it does not sell print copies of past issues. If you want this one in print, do not wait for a back-issue option.
Upgrading, Gifting and Renewals
A few details from Game Informer’s help page that affect what you buy:
- Upgrading: if you start on Digital Only, you can move to Print + Digital and pay only the difference between the two plans.
- Gifting: there is a separate gift print subscription, which is also how you get a second copy sent to the same address.
- One plan per account: an account can only hold one active subscription at a time.
- Auto-renewal: subscriptions renew automatically after a year, and Game Informer emails you about two weeks before it charges.
- Old subscriptions: subscriptions from before Game Informer shut down and relaunched in 2025 do not carry over.
Which Option You Should Pick
If you only want to read what Rockstar said about Leonida, its weather and its wildlife, Digital Only is the cheapest way in and the only way to read it on September 29. If you care about the cover art or collect magazines, Print + Digital costs $20 more a year at the current listed prices, gets you the same digital access on day one, and puts the physical issue in the mail. Given the limited-time warning and the no-back-issues policy, collectors should subscribe sooner rather than later.
What This Means for GTA 6 Fans
The magazine is a preview, not the game. Rockstar’s official Grand Theft Auto VI page lists the release as November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Before then, Rockstar has already detailed GTA VI: The Album and a collector’s box that does not include the game, and Xbox has spoken about its share of GTA 6 preorders. If you are catching up on the series first, our GTA games ranked list and the full GTA guides hub are good places to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I read Game Informer’s GTA 6 cover story? The digital edition goes live on September 29, 2026, for subscribers. Print copies follow in the coming weeks, both to subscribers and to bookstores and newsstands.
Can I buy just the GTA 6 issue? Not from Game Informer directly. Its store sells annual Digital Only and Print + Digital subscriptions, not single issues. Newsstand and bookstore copies are the only single-copy route Game Informer has mentioned.
How much is a Game Informer subscription? At the time of writing, Game Informer lists Digital Only at $39.99 a year and Print + Digital at $59.99 a year, both marked down from higher regular prices. Those are the US prices shown on its subscribe page.
Can I get the print issue outside the US? Yes, in about 50 countries, including Canada, the UK, Australia, Japan and most of Europe, since Game Informer expanded print subscriptions on August 24, 2026. The digital edition is available worldwide.
When does GTA 6 come out? Rockstar lists November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.