One of the most anticipated games of the decade, Rockstar Games’Grand Theft Auto 6,couldalso be one of the most expensive. Recent industry analysts have predicted thatGTA 6will cost upwards of $100for the base game, a significant increase in the price of AAA titles. Despite the fact that this hasn’t been confirmed by the studio, fans are not happy. However, taking into account the price ofGTAgames in the past and the rate of inflation, that price tag might not be so outlandish.
The high price ofGrand Theft Auto 6could set an industry standard for new AAA titles. With the increasingly longer periods of development between games and the cost of developers earning their deserved wages, such a high price does make sense, though it doesn’t make the price tag any easier to swallow. It may help to remember thatvideo games have always been an expensive luxury itemand comparing the price of the very firstGTAtitle in 1997 to the prospective price of the newest can put everything into perspective.
GTA 6 May Cost $100, According To Rumors
Rockstar Has Not Confirmed A Price Yet
Despite its set release date for later this year, Rockstar has providedscant information onGrand Theft Auto 6. Beyond the location and some glimpses of the main characters, no further information has come out about what to expect in-game.This information gap includes how much the game will cost on release, not to mention the price of any special editions. The massive title has only had a single teaser trailer, which came out in December 2023 after being leaked online.
The hacking andleaking issues surroundingGTA 6are likely a contributing factor for why no other announcements, teasers, or any information at all have come out since. Rockstar has been plagued with secrecy problems and is likely keeping every important piece of information close to the vest. Because of that, right now,fans have to rely on predictions and rumors regarding the game’s release and its price tag.
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According to analystMatthew Ball, video game industry trends and rising costs everywhere could point toGrand Theft Auto 6being priced at around $80 to $100 upon release. A behemoth in the gaming world like Rockstar selling its latest game at this price point would set a standard for other AAA titles and practically give the entire industry permission to up its prices. The jump fromGTA 5’s price of $60 in 2013, which has remained steady over the decade plus of rereleases, to $100 is dramatic. However, despite this $100 price point prediction coming from a knowledgeable source, it is important to stress that, for now, it’s still an unconfirmed rumor.
$100 Is A Lot, But PS1 Games Cost Around That Much (Adjusted For Inflation)
Prices Have Remained Steady For Almost Thirty Years
Rose-colored glasses over the years have made the increasing price of video games seem exorbitant, but taking a look at the price of video games in years past provides some perspective. According to old catalogs from Toys R Us in 1997 (posted to Reddit by userGavica), most AAA games for the PlayStation 1 were $47.99. These high-priced titles wereTwisted Metal 2, Madden ‘97,andMortal Kombat Trilogy,while other PS1 games, likeCrash BandicootandNHL ‘97were slightly cheaper at $42.99.According to theUS Bureau of Labor Statistics, the$47.99 price of AAA titles in 1997 is equivalent to $95.82 today.
Comparing these late 90s prices to modern-day AAA launches makes prices seem much more reasonable. In fact, games for the SNES were even higher than for the PlayStation 1, asMadden ‘97, Donkey Kong Country 3,andMarvel Super Heroeswere each $59.99, which converts to $119.78 in 2025.Street Fighter Alpha 2, NBA Hang Time,andUltimate MK3were each $69.99 in 1997, which converts to a staggering $139.75 today.
How Much GTA On PS1 Cost Compared To GTA’s Rumored $100
The Potential Price Of GTA 6 Is Shockingly Similar To The 1997 Game
The very firstGrand Theft Autocame out in 1997 amid controversy for its seemingly pro-criminal take on the classic “cops and robbers” gameplay. While a media frenzy took off surrounding the morality of the game, some stores considered not selling it altogether. Despite the controversy,GTAwas a commercial success. Like other AAA titles of the day,GTAwas priced around $50, give or take depending on the store and location.This $50 price tag, when adjusted for inflation, comes to $99.83 today, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means that since the very first game’s release in 1997, the price of a newGrand Theft Autowill have the same impact on your wallet.
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With the inflation of 28 years in mind, the (unconfirmed) $100 price tag forecast by analysts doesn’t seem quite as steep. In fact,it’s actually surprising thatGrand Theft Auto 6isn’t predicted to be even more expensive. Given the high cost of developing video games in 2025, the potential price could be lower than it needs to be because of the potential for more profit from microtransactions.
With the amount of time it’s spent in development, alongside a massively larger team of developers than Rockstar had in the late 1990s, the upcoming title could easily be priced much higher since so much money has gone into building the game.It’s likely that the price point ofGrand Theft Auto 6is being carefully considered, especially as the price of everyday necessities has risen, and many players tend to wait for games to go on sale.
Like inGTA 5, Rockstar is probably expecting to make the bulk of its profit fromGrand Theft Auto 6over the long term with an updated version ofGTA Online.Creating an ever-increasing catalog of fantastical cars, planes, and weapons for players to buy is howGTA Onlinekeeps up a steady revenue stream. With those future profits in mind, Rockstar won’t want to prevent potential customers from buying the game in the first place.
Sources:Matthew Ball,US Bureau of Labor Statistics,Reddit
Grand Theft Auto 6
Grand Theft Auto VI is an installment in Rockstar Games' wildly successful franchise. Set in a new location after the events of Grand Theft Auto V, VI will see players arrive in a new sprawling city where they can explore the world they want while completing various story and side quests while taking whatever vehicles players desire.
