As anticipation for pre-orders builds, the gaming community is buzzing with speculation regarding the title’s eventual price tag.
Official pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI have not yet commenced, prompting intense debate among fans and industry experts about the potential cost of the franchise’s next chapter. Some analysts believe Rockstar’s upcoming project is poised to establish a new pricing benchmark for the industry.
In a recent discussion with GamesIndustry.biz, Vic Bassi, an analyst at Video Game Insights, shared his perspective, stating that “if there is any game capable of shattering the $100 threshold,” it is undoubtedly GTA VI.
To justify this, Take-Two Interactive and other publishers must meticulously evaluate the advantages and drawbacks of such a shift, specifically its impact on the long-term sales funnel. Given the unprecedented levels of hype surrounding GTA VI, it would be logical for Take-Two to consider a price hike, though reaching the $100 mark might prove to be a bridge too far in terms of risk.
Analyst Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics observed that Rockstar’s primary “long-term revenue engine” is GTA Online, rather than the initial sale of the base game. Consequently, an excessively high entry price could become a self-defeating obstacle by hindering the migration of players to the new title:
Restricting the potential audience at launch through an inflated retail price will discourage the transition of players from GTA 5 to GTA 6, ultimately stifling the growth of the next GTA Online user base.
Grand Theft Auto VI is currently scheduled for a late 2025/2026 release window.
Source: iXBT.games