A massive price increase for GTA 6 has been suspected for quite a while, but an analyst has reignited speculation with their latest take.
Michael Pachter, working as a Managing Director at LA-based financial services firm — Wedbush Securities — discussed in a research note revealing the thoughts on the plans of the owner Take-Two, the owner of Grand Theft Auto VI publisher Rockstar Games.
GTA 6 key art (Rockstar Games)
Reported by Video Games Chronicle, he said: “We think the company has plans to sell the game at a previously unheard of price point, and suspect that management can offer consumers an incentive to pay $100 or more per unit by rewarding them with a large amount of in-game currency to be spent in GTA Online”.
“There is precedent for integrating an online game experience with a premium game, as Activision did so with both Call of Duty Warzone and Call of Duty Mobile content prior to the release of its annual Call of Duty premium installment”, Pachter stated further.
“In Activision’s case, the integration led to a 40% increase in sales of Call of Duty premium; in Take-Two’s case, we think a successful integration of GTA Online and GTA VI can lead to a $100 price point for the premium game”.
Pachter isn’t the first analyst to predict GTA 6 will have a $100 price tag; fellow expert analyst Matthew Bell has also predicted the new Grand Theft Auto game will be expensive at launch — arguing that it could “save” the games industry.
A point of concern for gamers, however, is that other developers and publishers are hoping for GTA 6 so be sold at a minimum price of $80 to $100 as well.
Because video game prices are said to not be increasing fast enough in line with today’s high development costs, other companies are hoping the new Grand Theft Auto launching at such a higher price will set a precedent allowing them to do the same.
The topic has become widespread enough to reach various levels of fans on social media who have been excited for GTA VI, and reaction has been mixed to say the least.
In the above Reddit thread, user Abject-Salamander614 laid out a key difference — stating that other games series with annual releases “don’t deserve to be $100”.
While some would pay a $100 price tag for GTA 6, since it’s been in development since 2014, they would not pay more than $70 for titles from other series.
Others like Legolas5000 responded with the consequences of that precedent as mentioned earlier. They said: “ That’s what happens when you open the flood gates.
This is why nobody should be like “I’m fine with GTA 6 costing $100. But only GTA 6’”.
“What do you think? That other companies won’t immediately replicate that business model that, at the very least, will be successful for Rockstar (and I’m willing to bet that it’ll be successful for other companies as well)?” they added.
The time is finally here, and while we haven’t quite got our hands on a physical or even digital copy of the next Grand Theft Auto, GTA 6 is closer than ever. Teaching us that patience is a virtue, it’s been a whopping 12 years since GTA V was released and introduced us to the legendary trio of Michel De Santa, Franklin Clinton, and Trevor Philips.
More than going on to become one of the biggest games of all time in terms of sales (only beaten by Minecraft), it’s the most profitable entertainment product of all time. While it might seem like a tall order to top GTA V‘s $8.5 billion revenue, GTA 6 is already off to a good start as its pre-orders quietly go live.
Despite only having a single trailer for GTA 6 back in December 2023, Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games have been letting the automotive adventure market itself.
GTA 6 pre-orders are live without having a release date (Gamers Hideout)
Even though the game has been plagued by leaks and had to release its trailer early because that also made its way online through unofficial channels, GTA 6 seems like an unstoppable machine.
The trailer became the most-watched YouTube video in the first 24 hours post-release, and with Take-Two repeatedly confirming the title is coming before the end of the year, the power of GTA 6 is so big, that it looks like rivals are moving their games.
If you want to lock in your GTA 6 pre-order, it’s not quite that simple. You might want to book a plane ticket because Malaysian site Gamers Hideout now has a pre-order option for GTA 6. Gaming fans can also head into a store and pick up an empty box, then head to the counter and put down a deposit of RM14.90 (around $3) to secure their copy of GTA 6.
It’s important to note that Rockstar and Take-Two haven’t given us an official release date, although there are continued rumors that a second trailer could drop at any moment and confirm the all-important date to mark in our diaries.
As for GTA 6‘s sales, market research firm DFC Intelligence suggests it will make $1 billion in pre-orders alone. As reported by the Financial Times, GTA 6 is expected to hit the milestone way ahead of GTA V making $1 billion three days after release.
Added to this, DFC muses that the next outing will make $3.2 billion in revenue in its first 12 months, which works out to double what GTA V made in the same period. Remembering that Avatar is the highest-grossing movie of all time and has made just $2.9 million in 16 years, it’s quite the feat if GTA 6 gets anywhere near these predictions.
Still, we don’t even have a price tag for GTA 6 yet and many are rightly sweating about rumors it could cost up to $100. Then again, with it poised to be the biggest game of all time and sure to have a lifespan as long as GTA V, that’s plenty of bang for your buck.
Featured Image Credit: Rockstar Games / YouTube
As we continue wading our way through 2025 and come to terms with the Doomsday Clock declaring we’re closer to oblivion than ever before, at least there’s some good news this year. 2025 is a packed one for entertainment, with blockbuster movies like Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps coupled with major gaming releases including Death Stranding 2, Doom: The Dark Ages, Monster Hunter Wilds, and more.
Gamers are saving up their dollars for a year that’s destined to bust our bank balances, but if you’ve noticed that things are looking a little quieter toward the end of the year, that might be to do with a not-so-little release called Grand Theft Auto 6.
It’s been 12 years since Rockstar Games released GTA V and it went on to become the most profitable entertainment product of all time. While we’ve only had a single GTA 6 trailer all the way back in December 2023, the fact it broke records and the actual game is tipped to make $1 billion in pre-orders alone should indicate where things are heading.
GTA 6 is tipped to have the biggest gaming release of all time (Rockstar Games)
Publisher Take-Two Interactive has repeatedly reassured us that GTA 6 is coming in 2025, but unfortunately, that won’t be for everyone.
GTA 6 is only confirmed for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series, meaning millions of players on PS4 and Xbox One will presumably be locked out.
There are also questions about the mythical PC port, and as it took nearly two years to get GTA V on PC, gamers are settling in for a bit of a wait.
Hopes that GTA 6 could soon be racing into our lives were sparked by Corsair Gaming’s VP of finance, Ronald van Veen. During an earnings call, he said: “Yeah, GTA 6 is probably the one everyone is talking about. And we’ll get a glimpse of that, I think, later on in the year for console. My understanding now it’s going to come out in the fall for console, and then early 2026 for PC.”
Now, a Corsair spokesperson has clarified the comments to IGN and explained that not only were Ronald van Veen’s comments speculation, but that Corsair has no access to release dates from Rockstar or Take-Two.
It’s disappointing that the Corsair update comes after Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick hinted that a PC port could be on the way sooner rather than later and emphasized the importance of the PC platform.
Former Rockstar dev Mike York has previously explained why PC players tend to be left out in the cold, telling fans: “The reason why a PC port comes later and not the first thing that comes out, is because they want to prioritise what sells.
“Most of the time, especially in the past, PlayStation was the big seller. PlayStation was the console to have. It sold more than any other console for the most part. Everybody’s playing PlayStation.”
As Rockstar is yet to even confirm a release date for GTA 6 on PS5 and Xbox Series, we’re not exactly holding our breath that we’ll be booting up our PCs before the end of the year.
Despite still being set for a 2025 release, you wouldn’t think that GTA 6 is meant to be out by the end of the year given publisher Rockstar Games’ radio silence over the past year.
Following the drop of the latest Grand Theft Auto game’s first and only trailer back in December 2023, the publisher has said next to nothing since and fans aren’t afraid to make that clear when responding to other franchise announcements.
Chart a new flight path for your arms trafficking business in Oscar Guzman Flies Again, the new GTA Online update coming on March 4: rsg.ms/6696304
The latest has come through following the above announcement of GTA Online’s latest monthly update. Usually offering bonuses like free DLC, extra in-game money, and even bonus, XP, the new update — titled “Oscar Guzman Flies Again” — featuring the return of recurring namesake character, Oscar Guzman.
Feedback to this post highlights the issue Rockstar Games currently has on its social media platforms. Starved fans are now so hungry for even a whiff of news on GTA 6’s release date or even a hint of gameplay reveal, they hold no hesitation in letting their frustrations be known.
One such fan, Synth Potato, keeps their thoughts short and sweet. They said: “One more update after this then GTA 6 RELEASE [date news]”, along with a trinity of pleading emojis.
With hundreds of likes on some replies, it’s clear these responders aren’t alone. Another frustrated user replied: “Where is trailer two for GTA 6? Asking for a friend”. Others like LJT have gone on to even a poll asking whether fellow players think Rockstar will ever drop a second trailer at all.
Others like Digelotron simply replied: “GTA 6 or don’t care”, surely representing the thoughts of many Grand Theft Auto fans who’ve had their fill of GTA Online’s almost 12-year run and are ready to jump into the next entry in the franchise.
Lucia & her male accomplice in the first GTA 6 trailer (Rockstar Games)
While Rockstar Games are yet to reveal GTA 6’s release date or gameplay, the company’s owner — Take-Two Interactive — quietly re-confirmed the game’s release window of Fall 2025 during a February 6 earnings call.
In it, Strauss Zelnick, Chairman and CEO of Take-Two Interactive, said: ““Looking ahead, this calendar year is shaping up to be one of the strongest ever for Take-Two, as we plan to launch Sid Meier’s Civilization VII on February 11th, Mafia: The Old Country in the Summer, Grand Theft Auto VI in the Fall, and Borderlands 4.”
What’s more, the GTA VI section on Rockstar Games’ website still has “Coming 2025 to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S” listen in its description”, hopefully silencing potential worries that a delay announcement could be on the way.
While the usual state of the gaming industry has a trend “never say never” when it comes to last-minute delays, the continued confirmation of GTA 6’s release window signals we’ll be getting a real update on the game’s specific launch date and gameplay eventually. That still won’t stop eager fans sharing their impatience in the meantime, but it’s still surely a comfort to many others, at least until if the shocking rumoured price tag ends up being true..
There’s no doubt that Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 6 is the most anticipated game of the year – and arguably even the decade too – yet rumors surrounding the potential price tag have began to worry many otherwise excited fans.
It’s been over a decade since the last Grand Theft Auto game was released, and countless fans have been eagerly waiting further information for the upcoming sequel.
However, there has been little talk surrounding GTA 6 since the first (and only) trailer dropped at the end of 2023, despite consistent reconfirmations of the game’s ‘Fall 2025’ release window.
This has understandably led to the circulation of rumors, primarily surrounding predictions for the exact date of launch, yet one particular prediction from an industry analyst surrounding the price has some fans concerned.
Analysts are predicting a steep price hike once GTA 6 is released, and fans aren’t happy (YouTube/Rockstar Games)
While most games release around the $60 to $70 mark, with the latter considered the upper cap for pricing, expert analyst Matthew Bell has theorized that GTA 6 could be as expensive as $100 at launch, as reported by LADBible.
This would be an incredibly harsh price hike for most gamers, and even the somewhat conservative prediction of $80 would be a major bump that could open the floodgates within the industry.
What Bell argues though is that this price increase could ‘save’ the games industry, in a time that is dominated by ballooning budgets and significant employee layoffs across the board.
GTA 5, for example, sold around 5,000,000 copies in its first three months so if its sequel matches this – and industry experts indicate that it will exceed these numbers – it would bank $500,000,000 in revenue as opposed to $350,000,000 with a $70 price tag.
The wider fan reaction has been split though, with some willing to fork up the cash, whereas others understandably wary of what it would indicate for the industry and its consumers.
“If GTA VI costs $100, I’ll gladly pay it,” outlines one user on X, adding “that doesn’t mean Ubisoft, EA, or any other of these western bum-ass AAA studios are invited to the $100 table. Make better games first.”
If GTA VI costs $100, I’ll gladly pay it. That doesn’t mean Ubisoft, EA or any other of these western bum-ass AAA studios are invited to the $100 table. Make better games first.
It’s hard to imagine that Rockstar would be the only company to jump on the trend though, especially if it proves successful for them, but other gamers aren’t quite as convinced.
“This is your worst take,” argues another user in the replies. “Doesn’t matter how good a game is $100 is too much. Don’t let corporations pull one on you.”
Another adds that “if you buy in at $100 it just shows companies you’re willing to do so and it will become the norm. GTA V has made near $9 billion off its online, I don’t think they need to be charging $100.”
It remains yet to be seen as to whether Rockstar and its publisher Take Two will indeed take the leap with a price increase, but it certainly would send shockwaves throughout the industry that would be hard to ignore.
