Commentary
Vice Grip
Rockstar opens GTA VI pre-orders on June 25
WASHINGTON, United States. Rockstar Games will open pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI on June 25, setting up the next major step in the rollout of one of the most awaited entertainment releases in years. The game is scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S.
Rockstar announced the pre-order date together with the official cover art. The company has not released pricing details, although analysts expect a base price of around $80. Some industry speculation had pointed to a possible price near $100, but Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive have not confirmed that figure.
GTA VI arrives more than 13 years after Grand Theft Auto V, which remains one of the most successful games ever released. GTA V reached $1 billion in retail sales within three days and has sold about 230 million copies, behind only Minecraft among the best-selling games in history. The full Grand Theft Auto franchise has sold about 470 million units, according to Take-Two figures cited in the report.
The new title returns to Vice City, Rockstar’s Miami-inspired setting, within the fictional state of Leonida. It follows Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, a criminal couple at the center of the story. Lucia becomes the first female protagonist in the main GTA line.
The franchise started in 1997 with a top-down crime game format, but GTA III changed the series in 2001 with a three-dimensional open world that helped define modern action games. Later entries expanded that formula with bigger cities, sharper satire, celebrity voice casts and online play.
That success has always carried controversy. Critics have accused the series of glorifying violence, criminal behavior, misogyny and racial caricatures. Take-Two executives have rejected claims that the games encourage real-world crime and have argued that buyers should be free to choose the games they play.
GTA VI also comes after a troubled development cycle. Rockstar confirmed the game was in development in 2022, the same year unfinished footage leaked online in one of gaming’s biggest security breaches. The game was later delayed twice before landing on its current November 19 release date.
Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled to release worldwide, including in the Philippines, on November 19, 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Volvo spotlights a father’s trust in safety
Volvo Cars Philippines is putting the focus on family safety this Father’s Day through the story of first-time Volvo owner Patricio R. Nardo Jr., a chief engineer and seafarer whose choice of vehicle was guided by trust, reliability and protection.
Nardo, who has spent decades working at sea and traveling across Europe, said Volvo stood out among the brands he encountered because of its long record in automotive safety. His work, built around precision and risk management, also shaped how he chose a vehicle for his family.
For him, the Europe trip that came with his ownership experience was a welcome bonus. The bigger reward was knowing his family rides in a vehicle designed with safety as a priority.
“Volvo represented something deeper than luxury or performance,” Nardo said in the company statement. “It represented trust. As a father and as someone responsible for the safety of others in my profession, that matters tremendously.”
Volvo’s safety history includes the invention of the three-point seatbelt, along with continuing work on driver-assistance and collision avoidance systems. Its current safety suite includes collision avoidance, intelligent braking, pedestrian detection and emergency steering support.
Nardo said those features give him peace of mind, especially when he is away for work.
“Every time my family gets into the car, I know Volvo has designed it with our safety in mind,” he said. “That gives me confidence and peace of mind, especially when I’m away at work.”
HARI vice chairman, president and chief executive officer Maria Fe Perez-Agudo said safety remains the foundation of the Volvo brand.
“For nearly a century, Volvo has challenged itself to create innovations that protect people both inside and outside the vehicle,” Perez-Agudo said.
Volvo Cars Philippines said Nardo’s story reflects fathers who make decisions rooted in care and responsibility. For Nardo, the trip may be the prize, but the real win is knowing his family is protected on the road.
VF 5 Opens EV Earnings Route
VinFast is positioning the VF 5 as both a daily electric vehicle and a possible income tool through its Rentapasada program, which gives transport service drivers a lower-cost way to enter ride-hailing operations.
The VF 5 is a five-seat, all-electric A-segment SUV aimed at buyers watching not only the purchase price, but also long-term running costs. Fuel, maintenance and daily operating expenses can influence ownership costs over several years, especially for motorists who drive often.
Metro Manila owner Carlo Santos said he compared the VF 5 with gasoline-powered crossovers before buying the EV. He said the difference became clearer after he calculated fuel and maintenance expenses.
Based on VinFast’s example, a gasoline crossover consuming around 6.8 liters per 100 kilometers would use about 68 liters of fuel for 1,000 kilometers of monthly driving. At a Metro Manila gasoline price of P87.25 per liter as of 9 June 2026, that would cost close to P6,000 a month. VinFast said the VF 5’s energy costs may be more than 50 percent lower for the same distance.
The savings could be bigger for transport service drivers. A driver covering around 200 kilometers a day with the same gasoline consumption rate would use roughly 408 liters of fuel each month, equal to about P35,600 in fuel costs alone at the cited pump price.
VinFast is tying that advantage to Rentapasada, a rental program designed to help Filipinos join the ride-hailing and transport service sector through Green GSM’s platform. The VF 5 is one of two models available under the program, alongside the seven-seater Limo Green.
Rental rates start at P1,000 per day, allowing drivers to operate without the large upfront cost usually required for vehicle ownership. Drivers who meet qualifying ride targets may also receive free charging at V-Green charging stations, which can further reduce daily operating costs.
The program offers a fixed five-year contract, with an option to extend for another three years. VinFast said this gives drivers a more predictable setup for building a long-term source of income.
The VF 5 is powered by a 100 kW electric motor and offers up to 326 kilometers of range. It also comes with six airbags, seven advanced driver assistance features, 16 smart functions, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The vehicle is covered by a seven-year warranty, while the battery has a 10-year warranty.
With Rentapasada, VinFast is pitching the VF 5 beyond private use. The EV can serve as a family car, commuter vehicle or income-generating unit for drivers looking to lower fuel expenses while entering the transport service market.
Xpress offers zero commission to TNVS drivers
Filipino-owned Xpress Super App has launched Xpress Go, a new TNVS driver program that gives qualified drivers zero commission for their first 60 days on the platform.
The program opened on June 12 and will accept sign-ups until August 31, 2026. It is limited to 500 driver slots in Metro Manila, with priority given to drivers using hybrid or electric vehicles, or those committing to shift through Xpress’ vehicle financing partnership with Cebuana Lhuillier or its partners.
Under Xpress Go, drivers who sign up and activate within the program period will keep 100 percent of their fares during their first 60 days. After the relief period, they will move to a permanent 12 percent commission rate, locked in writing until December 31, 2026.
The package also includes a vehicle branding program that gives drivers an additional ₱4,000 per month for carrying the Xpress Go decal, milestone bonuses of up to ₱5,000 based on verified trip volume, and a referral program that pays ₱1,000 each to the referrer and the qualified new driver once the new driver completes 100 trips within 30 days.
Xpress said the program is backed by a ₱30 million commitment aimed at helping drivers cope with fuel costs while supporting the shift to cleaner mobility.
Based on company estimates, a driver completing 10 to 12 trips a day at an average fare of ₱300 could keep between ₱18,000 and ₱21,600 more per month compared with a 20 percent commission platform. Across the 60-day period, that could reach ₱36,000 to ₱43,000 before bonuses, branding payments or referral incentives.
Xpress Super App president Cliff Cabungcal said the program reflects the company’s push to reinvest in Filipino drivers while supporting the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles.
“Electric and hybrid vehicles are that path. But making the shift is hard. We know what that transition costs a driver and we know it can’t fall on them alone,” Cabungcal said.
Xpress was incorporated in March 2022 and officially launched in July 2024. The company operates across Metro Manila, Bataan, Pampanga, Laguna, Dumaguete and Boracay, with services covering ride-hailing, corporate mobility and island transport.
The company said it has acquired more than 120 hybrid and electric vehicles and has built partnerships with BYD and Cebuana Lhuillier to support the transition to cleaner mobility. It is also exploring the expansion of its EV fleet with GAC and Hongqi.
Metro Manila TNVS drivers may sign up through the Xpress website, the Xpress Driver App, activation booths across NCR or the official Ka-Xpress Partners Facebook page. Required documents include a professional driver’s license, NBI clearance, vehicle OR/CR, LTFRB Provisional Authority or active TNVS franchise, and proof of insurance.
