Buying Grand Theft Auto VI now means picking a side, but it is not a permanent one. The Standard Edition runs $79.99 and includes the full story, map, and core game. The Ultimate Edition costs $99.99 and adds five working storefronts plus a couple of side jobs. The detail many buyers miss is the most reassuring one: if you start with Standard, you can upgrade to Ultimate after launch and unlock those same locked shops later, so the $20 decision is never final.
Quick answer: Yes, you can unlock the locked shops later. Starting with the Standard Edition does not lock you out, because Rockstar offers an upgrade path to Ultimate after launch. Pay the difference whenever you want and the five gated shops (Rideout Customs, One-Eyed Willie’s, Sara’s Unisex Salon, Stock 305, and Electric Fang Tattoo) plus the two side activities open up. Everything behind that paywall is cosmetic or optional, and the Standard Edition still has regular salons, clothing stores, and mod shops in the meantime.
The 5 shops locked behind the GTA 6 Ultimate Edition
Rockstar describes each of these locations as “only open for business” with the Ultimate Edition. They are real, physical storefronts inside Vice City, not menu items, so a Standard player can walk right up to the door and still be turned away. Here is what each one offers.
| Shop | Type | What it unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| Rideout Customs | Vehicle mod shop | Detailed interiors, custom rims, and donk-style builds |
| One-Eyed Willie’s | Vehicle mod shop (Lake Leonida) | Off-road modifications and hand-painted automotive finishes |
| Sara’s Unisex Salon | Hair and beauty | Signature styles, facial hair for Jason, makeup and nails for Lucia |
| Stock 305 | Clothing store (Stockyard) | Exclusive elevated streetwear for Jason and Lucia |
| Electric Fang Tattoo | Tattoo parlor (Stockyard) | Over 50 signature tattoos for both characters, designed by FAILE |
The two side activities also tied to Ultimate
The shops are not the only thing behind the higher price. Two pieces of optional gameplay are bundled with the Ultimate Edition as well.
- PTT YOUNGIN$ raid: a mission to hit the compound of one of Southside Vice City’s gangs, escape, and grab special items and contraband.
- Classic Car Collection: a commission from local fixer Wyman to track down abandoned classic and project cars across Leonida and restore them.
Both are self-contained extras. Neither connects to the main campaign, so skipping them leaves no gap in Jason and Lucia’s story.
What the Standard Edition still gives you
The locked shops are exclusive locations, not the only ones of their kind. At $79.99, the Standard Edition includes the entire core game: the full story, the complete map, and ordinary clothing stores, barbers, tattoo parlors, and vehicle mod shops scattered across Leonida.
So the paywall affects breadth of customization, not access to the systems themselves. You can still dress your characters, change their hair, ink them, and tune cars without ever paying the extra $20. What you miss are the specific styles, the FAILE tattoo set, the donk builds, and those two side jobs.
Standard vs Ultimate Edition pricing
| Detail | Standard Edition | Ultimate Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $99.99 |
| Core game (story + map) | Yes | Yes |
| Five exclusive shops | No | Yes |
| PTT YOUNGIN$ raid + Classic Car Collection | No | Yes |
| Bonus vehicles, weapons, and apparel | No | Yes |
| Upgrade available after launch | Yes, to Ultimate | — |
The Ultimate Edition also throws in extras like the ’95 Grotti Cheetah, the Hawk & Little Morgan revolvers, personalized sidearms for Jason and Lucia, safehouse vehicles, and the Vice City Style outfits. Rockstar says this content is “threaded across all aspects” of the story, so it unlocks gradually as you play rather than dumping into your inventory at the start.
You can upgrade to Ultimate after launch
You are not locked out of the exclusive content forever if you start with Standard. Rockstar confirmed an upgrade path, so you can pay the difference later and have the doors open up.
How you know the upgrade worked: the five gated stores stop turning you away and let you in, and the PTT YOUNGIN$ raid and Wyman’s Classic Car Collection commission become available in the world. If those doors are still closed, the upgrade has not applied to your copy yet.
So do you really need the Ultimate Edition?
For most players, no. Nearly everything behind the paywall is cosmetic, and the one slice of locked gameplay is the optional Classic Car Collection, a restoration side activity that does not change how the campaign plays out. The Standard Edition is the complete game.
The reason this stings is the precedent more than the price. GTA 5 never gated map locations this way; every shop in Los Santos was open no matter which edition you bought. Putting working storefronts behind a single-player upgrade is an unusual move, and if it sells well, other publishers may copy it.
If you want every shop, mission, and bonus vehicle from day one and the extra $20 is comfortable, the Ultimate Edition delivers exactly what it lists. If $80 is your ceiling, buy Standard, play the full game, and decide later whether those five shops and a car-hunting commission are worth the top-up. The upgrade will still be there when you are.
