With Grand Theft Auto 6 on the horizon, fans are buzzing about what to expect, not just in terms of gameplay but also in terms of price.
Some industry experts predict that Rockstar might push the price to $100 for this next-gen hit.
But will players be willing to fork out that much for a game, or is this just another pricing experiment that could backfire?
Here’s what we’re expecting from this next-gen release.
Will It Raise the Bar (& Price) to $100?
According to Matthew Ball, a respected analyst, GTA 6 could drive a large-scale price hike in the gaming industry.
In his State of Video Gaming in 2025 report, Ball discussed how game prices aren’t changing despite rising development costs.
Games today require more time, more resources, and larger teams to create than ever before.
This has ballooned budgets, so the $70 price tag might not be enough anymore.
With the incorporation of cutting-edge technologies like ray tracing and massive open worlds, production costs are increasing, and developers and publishers are under pressure to recoup their costs.
GTA 6 is getting so hyped that some think it could set the price at $80 or even $100 because of how massive it will be.
Some reports say GTA 6 might cost more than $70, which could make other games follow suit.
But how will GTA 6 raise the bar beyond price? If Rockstar’s track record is anything to go by, GTA 6 will likely set a new standard for gameplay and immersion.
The technological leap is evident from Rockstar's previous works, where they pushed the boundaries with Red Dead Redemption 2.
While price hikes don't sit well with all consumers, the industry is heavily advocating for it.
Experts argue that GTA 6 could offer publishers the rationale to implement price hikes industry-wide.
The argument suggests that if GTA 6 achieves millions in sales at a $100 price tag, other developers may follow suit, raising the price point for AAA games.
In the past, Take-Two Interactive (Rockstar's parent) has led the charge on price changes.
They were among the first to increase the price of new games to $70 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2020.
If GTA 6 does as well as expected, the company could raise the price, and other major publishers may follow suit.
Despite the financial logic behind raising game prices, the response from consumers could be more complicated.
Players feeling the pinch from inflation and rising costs might not be too hyped about a $100 price tag.
The $70 price tag has already sparked frustration among fans, who feel certain releases aren't offering enough value.
Slapping on a $100 price could push some over the edge, especially if there’s no noticeable jump in quality or content.
As prices rise, more and more players are leaning on discounts, sales, or Game Pass-like subscriptions to get the newest titles.
In addition, the growing reliance on in-game purchases, DLCs, and season passes has already left many feeling that the initial price isn’t the full story.
If GTA 6 succeeds, charging $100 for the base game might fuel the "nickel-and-diming" trend.
Consumers may feel they are paying a premium for a massive game that still relies on microtransactions for a full experience.
As a fan pointed out, GTA 6 will likely be one of those games people will gladly pay top dollar for on day one because of its expansive world and immersive multiplayer features.
The real test will be whether other titles can replicate this success.
Only time will tell, but with the hype surrounding GTA 6, it’s clear that Rockstar is testing the waters to see how far they can push the envelope before fans start to push back.