GTA 6's Heftier Than Expected Price Tag Would be a Bad Idea, Expert Warns

GTA 6 is rumoured to have a pretty large price tag, but experts have weighed in on why this would be a bad idea.

We’re still just under ten months away from the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, and it seems that Rockstar Games still isn’t ready to announce details about pre-order dates and pricing. Though, we can’t imagine it’ll be far off.

In the meantime, everyone and their mums have had their own takes on it. A commonly seen rumour seems to be that the game will cost around $100 as a base price, a decision seen as controversial to many.

One market analyst has weighed in on this, who says that selling GTA 6 at a base price of $100 would be a “bad idea” for Rockstar.

Alinea Analytics’ Rhys Elliott told Wccftech that there are three reasons to not do this. The first reason, according to Elliott, is due to GTA Online.

“The real cash cow is GTA Online and its recurring revenues,” he writes. “So limiting GTA VI’s total addressable audience at launch to make a quick buck wouldn't be smart. Let's also not forget there's a cost-of-living crisis happening globally.”

As for the second reason, he says that, “Rockstar needs to move players from GTA 5 and a higher floor for the switching cost would limit the GTA5-to-GTA6 player acquisition.

“Players not budging from GTA 5 is probably one of GTA VI's biggest threats, one GTA hasn't really faced before. After all, live services are mostly zero-sum in today's oversaturated attention economy. Grand Theft Auto VI isn't just competing against competitors' games, it's competing with TikTok, Netflix, and even its predecessor.”

Finally, the third reason as to why selling GTA 6 at a $100 price point is a bad idea is down to the fact that this could be the price of a more expensive premium edition, which he expects wealthier players would be able to afford.

“Rockstar can easily charge $100 (hell, $120) for a higher-tier edition of GTA VI with a week of early access, maybe with a shark card thrown in. Players with the disposable income to pay that will pay it. It’s the best of both worlds, and it’s the norm for AAA games these days. While ''higher price = more revenues'' makes sense on first glance, it just doesn't make sense from a business perspective when we zoom out a little.”

We’ll probably find out more about GTA 6’s pricing towards the end of the year, when Rockstar is expected to open up pre-orders.

GTA 6 will be out on 26th May, 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.