Grand Theft Auto 6 has been simmering in Rockstar Games‘ kitchen for quite some time. Yet, after ten years of crafting one of the most anticipated titles in gaming history, the financial toll is becoming staggering.
In a recent Business Insider profile of Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick, the executive refused to disclose the exact figure. His sole admission was that the project “was expensive.” Nevertheless, industry experts project the final cost could range from $1 billion to $1.5 billion.
Surpassing Hollywood’s Spending Limits
The predecessor, GTA 5, moved over 225 million copies globally and generated more than $1 billion in revenue within just three days of its 2013 launch. Consequently, the latest installment in this wildly successful series faces the challenge of surpassing that legacy over a decade later. To put it in perspective, Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2 was already among the costliest games ever produced, with a price tag estimated between $379 million and $550 million.
Rockstar GamesWhy GTA 6 Might Permanently Shift Game Pricing
Development costs are only half the equation. Experts quoted in the report also anticipate that GTA 6 will break the current price barrier for AAA titles. One analyst suggested the game might even command a three-digit price point. This strategy could prove difficult, particularly as shoppers are already grappling with rising costs for consoles, games, and everyday expenses.