Buzz
A well-known market analyst suggests that GTA VI's price could redefine the "industry standard."
Renowned market analyst Matthew Ball recently released a 223-page presentation on the state of the video game industry in 2025. In this, he offers in-depth insights into the escalating production costs, the relationship between lawmakers and game developers, as well as the cultural and community influences on the industry's future.
In his report, Ball focuses extensively on Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI), one of the highly anticipated games expected to launch in 2025.
Even before its official release, and despite no PC version being available yet, market analysts predict that GTA VI will break numerous records, including that of the "most expensive game to produce." Although Rockstar has not disclosed official figures, it is estimated that the cost to produce GTA VI could range from hundreds of millions to up to $2 billion.
GTA VI might redefine the "industry standard" - Image: Rockstar.
Given these enormous figures, Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive (Rockstar's parent company) could set a high price for GTA VI, possibly reaching $80 or even $100. According to Ball, this move "could re-establish a high price point for video games after decades of price reduction, despite rising development costs."
Five years have passed since NBA 2K21 launched at a price of $70, which was $10 higher than the "industry standard" set in the mid-2000s for games on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. To this day, the increase in game prices remains a hotly debated topic, especially when the value of the game doesn't seem to match its asking price. The failure of Ubisoft's Skull and Bones game serves as a clear example of this.
The game Skull and Bones, heavily marketed and priced at $70, failed to meet expectations - Image: Ubisoft.
According to analyst Ball, GTA VI breaking the new "baseline" price will have a major impact on other game developers and publishers. The new standard could even rise to $80.
However, even if Rockstar sells GTA VI for $70, it would still be the "cheapest" GTA game ever released (due to inflation). In fact, based on current economic conditions, GTA VI's average price would be around $91— a price that would likely upset most gamers.
This isn't the first time someone has claimed that "GTA VI will be priced high." A rumor that circulated on the internet in September suggested that the lowest-priced version of GTA VI could still reach $150, but this price is highly unrealistic.
A recent report revealed that while the quality of graphics increases the game’s budget and extends development time, other factors such as employee salaries, the scale of the game world, and issues unrelated to the game itself also play a significant role in driving up the development costs.
