With Grand Theft Auto VI set to be perhaps the biggest game launch of all time, some fans are worried on how this will affect its price when it finally releases in May.
In recent years, video games have become more and more expensive with AAA releases usually breaking the £60 mark with ease.
However, with a cost of living price to boot, this is not a good combination.
Not only that but when it comes to big releases such as Grand Theft Auto VI, Rockstar is in a position to ask for whatever price it likes as there is no doubt that the majority of fans would make it work in order to play the next Grand Theft Auto entry.
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Well, according to a recent report, Grand Theft Auto VI’s price is about to get a whole lot larger thanks to a newly implemented tax.
Proposed in the 2026 Economic Package, residents of Mexico will now face a special tax on violent video games as well as online gambling, soft drinks, beverages with non-caloric sweeteners, and tobacco.
“The Ministry of Finance included a series of non-fiscal tax measures in the 2026 Economic Package that seek to discourage the consumption of products considered harmful to the population's physical and mental health,” a report by El Economista reads.
More specifically, games with violent content will face an 8% special tax increase which, of course, will include Grand Theft Auto VI.
"Recent studies have found a link between violent video game use and higher levels of aggression among adolescents, as well as negative social and psychological effects such as isolation and anxiety," the package's General Economic Policy Criteria states.
As you can imagine, video game fans are not happy with this new policy and took to r/pcgaming to share their thoughts.
“Unlike everything else in the articles the video games are the only one where they claim studies without citing hard figures,” user drjmcb shared.
“Pi**es me off as someone who used to bartend and had a drinking problem that almost killed me to see video games lumped in with actual drugs and gambling.”
However, another user had a slightly different stance.
“I actually think it's fair to lump (some) games in with gambling,” they shared.
“Some of the design is very predatory, and I think there's something to be said about that when real money is involved. It's no longer pixels on a screen, but something that is reaching into the real world (i.e. your wallet).”
Finally, user J-Clash made an important point when they said, “The article didn't say; did they go into details as to what counts as "violent"?
Like, does GTA get the same tax as Fortnite? What about Minecraft?”
It is definitely a frustrating situation for Mexican residents and hopefully the new policy does not affect the price of Grand Theft Auto VI too much come 26 May 2026.
Topics: GTA 6, GTA, Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar Games