There is a lot of speculation over the cost ofGrand Theft Auto 6right now. One of the biggest rumors circulating is that the game is likely going to cost $100, even in its standard version. While Rockstar Games and Take-Two have yet to comment on any of this, it’s interesting to consider. A change like this could affect the entire industry in many ways, but not all of them are bad.
There are some peoplewho would pay $100 forGTA 6, but many fans seem to feel like that price won’t be warranted. It’s interesting to think about howthe gaming landscape would change if Rockstar tried to set a new price standard. Many people may not realize it, but if these rumors are true, this could be the start of gaming becoming a luxury and not a hobby.
8This Could Make Other AAA Games Start Costing $100
Other Studios Would Probably Follow Immediately
One thing that a lot of people are probably realizing is that Rockstar can influence the average cost of games withGrand Theft Auto 6. A $100 release price could trigger a significant shift in the video game industry. This wouldcause other big-name games to raise their pricesas well. This is because others would follow a major company setting a new price. For example, when Take-Two Interactive raised the price ofNBA 2Kto $70, it quickly became the standard for most big games.
If You’re Outraged By GTA 6’s Rumored $100 Price, You Might Want To Check The Cost Of GTA On PS1 When Adjusted For Inflation
Grand Theft Auto 6’s price could reach triple digits, but comparing the price of AAA games from the first GTA’s release may shed some light on why.
The financial benefits are too tempting for other companies to ignore. A $30 increase ona game that sells a million copies would bring in an additional $30 million. It normally takes 428,571 units to generate a profit of $30 million at $70 a game. That is not only a significant increase in profits, but also a windfall when units can’t meet expectations.
If theGTA 6$100 price tag happens and other companies follow suit, that would almost definitely raise indie game prices too.
The boost in profits is especially relevant given the high production costs of AAA games. It’s not hard to imagine that the higher costs of making games mean a higher cost to the consumer.IfGTA 6sold well at $100, that would set the new standard immediately, and other companies would likely jump at the chance to help solidify this across the board.
7People Will Be Expecting More To Justify the Cost
It’s A High Asking Price For The Same Quality
IfGTA 6came out at $100, it had better be groundbreaking. This kind of jump would be unusual for a standard edition, and people would assume that it either came with bigger gameplay, better graphics, and a lot more that makes it the future of gaming. It raises expectations so high that most other companies would likely fail to meet them.These games would have to be ‘game of the decade’ qualityand players would expect something likeBaldur’s Gate 3every time.
The idea that higher prices can cover rising production costs overlooks the risks involved.
This change would put a lot of pressure on other game developers as well. The idea that higher prices can cover rising production costs overlooks the risks involved. If a $100 game doesn’t meet these high expectations,it doesn’t just bomb; it faces backlash that could destroy future sales and brand loyalty. It just sets the game up for even further failure if that’s just a tall boast, much likeSkull & Bonesdid when Ubisoft said the game was AAAA.
Itwould also likely be thedeath of DLC, because asking for more on top of $100 could feel like a total insult. And this isn’t even consdiering bugs and glitches most games experience at launch. At $100, a game better be perfect on release with no expectation of paying more for more content or waiting until it’s the quality players deserve from a completed game.
6Studios Are Able To Spend More Time On Games if They Recoup Greater Costs
A Good Studio Can Use This Opportunity Wisely
IfGTA 6was released at $100 and other studios followed suit, we would likely see a huge change in quality - at least theoretically. The increase in price would positively affect game development. With more money coming in from each sale,game studios might have more time and resources to work on their games.
This could help reduce the pressure to rush games out or cut corners to meet tight deadlines. As a result, we could see better-quality games with more content, and studios might rely less on additional downloadable content or microtransactions. That is a perfect world-type situation, because we know that some company execs would rather keep the quality the same, so production prices wouldn’t increase.
That would mean studios would generate more profit, and there would be an inflation of cashflow without real benefit to the player. This kind of change is what a lot of people fear. So it would lead tobetter quality, but also more companies trying to take advantage of a high cost.
5Total Sales of GTA 6 Will Probably Suffer
Not Many People Want To Spend $100 On A Single Game
GTA 6is one of the most anticipated games of the past two decades. However, $100 would be a big asking price, and not everyone would say yes. Fans were expecting something to cost $70 for years once that price became normal, and if that inflated, it would be tough for many to go forward with the purchase. The high price could turn away many potential buyers.
There are plenty of reasons not to spend $100, from a limited budget, plans for more games at that time, or even not being that much of a fan. A lot of excitement would drive initial sales, butmany people would likely choose to wait for the price to go down or look for alternatives. The best time for a clone to come out is when the main game disappointed fans. Just look atCities: Skylinesrelease afterSim City 5to see how a giant in a genre can crumble when attacked during a weak time.
GTA 6would be a smash hit on releaseonly if the price was reasonable. There aretoo many casual fans out there who would be willing to pay $60, or even $70 game, but who may wait a while for discounts if the game launches at $100. Asking a casual player to spend $100 on a game is like asking a casual sports fan to buy a game ticket - it’s not worth it after a certain price.
4Subscription-Based Models Would Likely Get More Subscribers
Supply & Demand Is Driven By Need & Price
The biggest winner for the industry switching to $100 a game after theGTA 6release would be Xbox Game Pass.Game Pass thrives on the idea that spending $20 a month is a better dealthan buying a bunch of games. It feels likeGame Pass partnered with Amazon Fire Stickto bring in more casual players who don’t want to buy consoles.
Some people already worry the future will be subscription vs ownership, but it’s hard to think of something that would push that narrative more than games costing so much. There are simply too many people out there who would seriously consider going subscription-only if the alternative was $100 a game. It’shard to convince me $100 a game is worth it when you can get a library that grows for $20 a month; that’s 1/5 the cost every month.
3Rockstar Would Get Backlash & Negative Press (At Least Initially)
Vocal Fans & Critics Would Rebel Against The Price
The most obvious outcome of Rockstar releasingGrand Theft Auto 6for $100 is all the negative press the company would get. Most game price rises have been only $10 at a time, soa $30 boost at once would come with boycotts and plenty of people angry. It’s hard to imagine the potential profit is worth being called greedy and out of touch by fans and critics.
Will GTA 6 Really Cost $100? Why You Shouldn’t Worry Just Yet
Rumors are circulating that Grand Theft Auto could cost as much as $100 at launch for the base game, but you shouldn’t start worrying just yet.
The criticism wouldn’t just be about the price either. The $100 price tagwould be seen as a publisher taking advantage of a loyal fanbase. Other companies would be just as likely not to raise their own prices based on how much backlash Rockstar would get. It’s a bad situation for a company to willingly throw itself into.
2The Average Price of Indie & AA Games Would Go Up
The Entire Industry Would Likely Shift Up
If theGTA 6$100 price tag happens and other companies follow suit, that would almost certainly raise indie game prices. While some indie developers wouldn’t dream of raising their game prices, plenty also need the money. This is a business and if higher prices become normal,the rest of the industry would likely follow suit, independent developers included.
Some indie developers pour years of their lives into their games to just charge $20 or less, and the risk is very little to no profit. It is hard to judge a regular person for charging more when the opportunity arrives when that same person just wants to follow their dream and make a living doing it. We’d have to acceptindie and AA game prices rising alongside AAA prices.
1Gaming Would Decline As A Hobby
Cheaper Hobbies Have More People Participating
It is pricey to get into gaming, but the cost of staying in it is fairly reasonable. You can play games anywhere, including in the comfort of your own home. It’s a way to get over a hard day and something that anyone can get into without much skill.Grand Theft Auto 6selling at $100 would likely be the end of that. It would lead toother companies raising prices and driving away casual players.
If a new game is $100, then a used one would likely be $70, which is too much for many families to justify.
Like many people, my parents bought used games for me, and I got consoles after their generation was years past. I played on a standard-definition television until I moved out and could buy my own console and TV. If games were $100 each, I could never have gotten into gaming like I did. There are plenty of people in that position whowould rather spend the investment elsewhere, because gaming would be seen as too much of a luxury.
Grand Theft Auto 6may not be releasing with a $100 price. Rockstar has never confirmed those rumors, even as the first quarter of 2025 passes. However, it is important to think about these things as the industry grows. The speculation alone proves that one decision made by a big company could be the first domino in a series of events that would change the industry forever.
