costco has psn gift cards 20% off, so the ultimate edition is basically $80 right now

Saw the GameSpot piece about Costco running a deal on PlayStation Store gift cards. Four $25 cards for $80, or two $75 cards for $120. The four card bundle gets you $100 in PSN credit for $80, which is exactly what the Ultimate Edition costs digitally. Deal runs through October 11 or while supplies last, and it's members only, so you need a Costco membership even though their online store usually doesn't require one.

For anyone on PS5 this is a pretty clean way to knock $20 off the Ultimate Edition. The standard edition is $80 and comes as a code in a box at retail, but the Ultimate Edition seems to be digital only, which is probably why Rockstar likes it. Digital margins and all that.

The Ultimate Edition extras are the usual mix. Special weapon variants, a retro car, a boat, some clothing. But the part that caught my eye is the exclusive in game stores. Rideout Customs for car upgrades, Sara's Unisex Salon for haircuts, Electric Fang Tattoo for ink. Those are only listed for the Ultimate Edition.

What I can't figure out is what happens if you buy the standard edition. Are those shops just locked? Do they show up but with a paywall prompt? Or do they not exist in the world at all unless you paid the extra $20? Rockstar knows how to do microtransactions, and the ESRB rating mentions them, but nobody's said how it actually works in practice.

Preload starts November 12, and the game unlocks November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. If you're on PS5 and were already planning to grab the Ultimate Edition, this is probably the cheapest way before launch.

Anyone else thinking about this deal, or are you sticking with the standard edition and hoping those exclusive shops aren't a big deal?

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Source: GameSpot · Curated content.