The idea thatGrand Theft Auto 6could cost up to $100 at launch might seem concerning, but it could be too early to worry about that. Although the base price of a new game has indeed gone up recently, hitting $100 would be completely unprecedented.It wouldn’t be too surprising to see multiple versions ofGTA 6available at launch, with at least one of them costing $100 or more, but it’s hard to say if that will be the minimum amount players will have to spend to get the game.
GTA 6’s single trailerhas generated plenty of excitement, but that could change if it ends up being overpriced.Rumors ofGTA 6’s $100 price tagaren’t generating the same positivity, andit seems somewhat unlikely that Rockstar would sabotage the extreme levels of hype surrounding the gameby making it cost too much. Still, it’s not hard to understand why these rumors cause some nervousness. Even ifGTA 6might be worth $100, it could kick off a bad precedent for the rest of the gaming industry.
GTA 6’s $100 Price Tag Rumors Explained
GTA 6’s Price Rumors Stem From A Presentation By A Financial Analyst
The fans of $100GTA 6rumors were flamed by analystMatthew Ball’s presentation “The State of Video Gaming in 2025.” The presentation analyzes how the gaming industry experienced some disappointment in terms of growth post-COVID lockdowns and examines how game companies may attempt to get back to those high numbers. Near the tail end of the presentation, Ball claims that“some [developers] hope GTA VI will be priced at $80-100”so the game can break the arbitrary “$70 barrier” that sets the current standard for AAA games at release.
GTA 6 Release Window: Take-Two Doubles Down With Good News For Eager Fans
Grand Theft Auto 6 is still scheduled to release in Fall of 2025, according to documents and statements from the Take-Two Interactive earnings call.
Ball also makes some solid points as to whyGTA 6costing more at launch would make sense. Looking at the base price of video games when adjusted for inflation,GTA 6would be the “cheapest” game of the entire franchise at a $70 price point. However, this doesn’t account for the other waysGTA 6can (and likely will) make money outside the price of the base game.IfGTA 5is any indication, the revenue generation ofGTA Onlinemakes comparing a modernGTAtitle to earlier entries in the franchise a bit of a false equivalence.
That said, it’s hard to argue with Ball’s assertion that a higher price tag forGTA 6would be a positive development from the standpoint of game companies. Raising the price of base games to reflect the rising cost of production seems like a natural move to make, and it could stop developers from having to gamble on things like DLC or microtransactions to turn a profit. So, should players be worried aboutGTA 6actually costing $100?
It’s Not Confirmed GTA 6 Will Cost $80-$100
Rockstar Has Not Given GTA 6 A Price
It’s important to remember that nowhere in Ball’s report did he claim Rockstar is actually planning to releaseGTA 6at a $80-$100 price point. For its part,Rockstar has not confirmed a price forGTA 6yet, so it may be too early to start worrying about it. It’s also important to remember thatGTA 6is not just going to make money from sales of the base game alone.
GTA 5was initially released in 2013, and in the 12 years since, Rockstar has continued to runGTA Online’s servers. While it’s hard to nail downGTA Online’s exact revenue, it’s a major part ofGTA 5’s overall success, andTake-Two’s most recent earnings report cited it as among the biggest revenue sources over a decade after its launch.Rockstar could easily be banking on making enough money offGTA 6’s online componentsto avoid a price increase for the base game, and making it easier to buy the introductory product means more potential customers forGTA Onlinetransactions.
GTA 6 Will Be “First Game Where Online Is Sold Separately At Launch,” Claims Leaker
A new leak claims that the next installment of GTA Online will break the precedent established by other Rockstar games when GTA 6 launches this year.
For now,this style of monetization seems to be the norm for game companies. Most sports titles offer multiple editions of the game at launch, with premium-priced editions including a certain amount of in-game currency for their online modes. Other games likeMonster Hunter Wildsoffer DLCor Season Passes packaged with the price of a Deluxe Edition. This allows developers to sell some copies of games at a higher price point, while still being able to price the base game at $70.
More hype also means higher expectations, and anything that disappoints fans could end up turning public opinion against Rockstar.
It’s also worth mentioning thatthe standard price for a new game has typically crept up somewhat slowly. Within the last few decades, new AAA games went from $50 to $60 to the current standard of around $70, with $60 hanging around as a standard for a surprisingly long time. While it’s not completely unreasonable that a major title likeGTA 6might push the limits and hit $80, making a $30 jump wouldn’t just be unprecedented, it might also be a bad decision for Rockstar.
A Larger Price Tag Could Backfire For Rockstar
A High Price Tag Could Sabotage GTA 6’s Current Momentum
The massive hype that has surroundedGTA 6for years is a game developer’s dream, butit could easily become a nightmare if Rockstar makes the wrong move. More hype also means higher expectations, and anything that disappoints fans could end up turning public opinion against Rockstar. It seems pretty likely that a $30 increase from the current standard price of AAA games would constitute a disappointment, and raising the price too high might backfire. If the high sales numbers Rockstar expects tank due to a price hike, it might lose more than if it maintained a $70 price point.
Take-Two CEO Claims The Release Of GTA 6 Could Help Sell More Consoles & Teases At PC Launch
In a new interview, the CEO of GTA publisher Take-Two Interactive has said that GTA 6 could boost console sales and teases a PC release.
It’s also worth remembering that game developers are far from the only ones dealing with economic hardships in recent years. As the price of necessities goes up,more people will have to be pickier about how they spend their money on luxury items like video games. Slapping too high of a price tag ontoGTA 6could inspire some players to simply wait until the game goes on sale or drops in price permanently.
Rockstar may be in an enviable position when it comes to the excitement surroundingGTA 6, but it is also a precarious one. Pricing the game at $100 may be too big of a risk, and it could be safer to simply rely on the hype translating to sales and long-term players who will spend more money over time onGTA Online. Without an official announcement from Rockstar regardingGTA 6’s price, players might not have to worry about these rumors just yet.
