Expert predicts GTA VI will cost $100 and believes gamers will snap it up without complaint
The long-awaited sequel by developer Rockstar Games is expected in the autumn – 12 years on from the record-breaking GTA V.
While gamers excitedly await its release, the industry itself is buzzing with anticipation over rumblings the base game could command a premium $100 (about £80) price point and still achieve colossal sales.
Setting this precedent could lead to other game publishers wanting a slice of the action by increasing their own starting prices.
However, the GTA series boasts two winning ingredients that some other games do not have – brand power and fan loyalty.
Expert research analyst Michael Pachter told Sky News he believes Rockstar and parent company Take-Two Interactive Software will be able to charge $100 with little complaint.
Mr Pachter, a managing director at US-based Wedbush Securities, highlighted the rising cost of entertainment since GTA V was released in September 2013.
He said: “Realistically, video games are the only form of entertainment that hasn’t kept up pricing with inflation.
“Look at movie tickets, concerts, Disneyland, video on demand (VOD) – all have doubled.”
Mr Pachter said the key to “charging” more is to justify the value to the consumer.
He explained: “I expect GTA VI to be fully integrated with GTA Online, and Rockstar can offer premium edition purchasers $100-worth of in-game items – currency, skins, vehicles, weapons, etc – as a trade-off for the higher price point.
“The level of integration will make the in-game items more valuable, and I don’t expect a lot of pushback.
“I think $100 or so makes sense, and don’t expect that we will ever see a $500 game.”
If history repeats itself, GTA Online will be the moneymaker.
The persistent online world offers endless monetisation opportunities – with gamers enticed to splash out on new vehicles, weapons, properties, businesses and cosmetic upgrades.
Mr Pachter said GTA VI’s integration with its online offering provides an “excuse” for engaged players to spend more money.
He added: “Some players will spend an additional $500 and most won’t, but those who spend more than $100 will do so if they perceive there is value derived from the purchase.”
The GTA series – which was created in Dundee, Scotland – is one of the biggest franchises in the industry.
GTA V became the fastest entertainment product in history to make $1bn (in its first three days) and has since sold more than 210 million copies worldwide.
Developer Rockstar North (formerly DMA Design), based in Edinburgh, has achieved additional success by collaborating with fellow studio Rockstar San Diego on the Red Dead Redemption games.
Read more from Sky News:
The impact and legacy of Rockstar’s biggest game
The ‘geeky’ hobby that’s a billion-pound industry
When GTA V made its debut, it launched on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. That was two consoles ago, with the new game set to arrive via PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
AAA (Triple-A) games – big budget, high-profile productions – are now taking longer to make as gamers demand seamless multiplayer experiences, cross-device gaming capabilities, visually impressive graphics, and fully immersive storylines.
From the GTA VI trailer footage, players will be returning to the Miami-flavoured metropolis of Vice City in the fictional state of Leonida.
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The Bonnie and Clyde-style story is set to include the first playable female character in the series’ history.
GTA has always poked fun at American culture, with the nation’s past decade of politics like something out of the game.
GTA VI looks certain to continue the series’ tradition of satire, but the trailer also shows that no expense has been spared in regards to bringing the sun-soaked streets of Vice City to life.
The cost of creating a game can vary widely based on a multitude of factors, including the studio size, staff skill level, and development time.
Given the size of Rockstar’s workforce and the number of years the game has been in development, Mr Pachter believes the cost of GTA VI “is highly likely to be nearly $1bn”.
Mr Pachter said: “They spent this much time because they can, and the scope of the game is typically immense.”
Rockstar has so far remained tight-lipped over its budget and whether GTA VI is indeed the most expensive video game ever made.
Not easy to share games in a digital download age
The gateway toy that sparked my love for gaming was the Tomytronic Shark Attack 3D device.
It was the early 1980s and I’d received the binocular-style game for Christmas.
I soon upgraded to the ZX Spectrum, and as the years have passed I’ve been fortunate to enjoy many of the consoles released via Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox.
Let me be clear, I’m a console gamer. If I had the spare money and patience, maybe I would build my own gaming PC – but I don’t see that in my future.
I love the GTA series and rank Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption, L.A. Noire, Bully (Canis Canem Edit) and The Warriors amongst my top favourites.
Although the GTA games are meant for adults, I expect many youths across the UK will either want it on day one or will add it to their Christmas list.
Rolling back to when I was in primary school, I was able to borrow ZX Spectrum games from the local library.
My friends and I would share these around between ourselves, and in later years we would continue to swap our own Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox games.
This meant that someone like myself – who didn’t come from money – was able to play a game I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to afford.
I highlight this because some of the newer consoles don’t have a disc drive, and most games are now bought and downloaded digitally.
I certainly don’t begrudge the price of video games rising to ensure a good quality product, but by making it more difficult to share them with friends is a hindrance.
With the cost of living crisis affecting households right across the UK, there may be parents who do not have the money to buy a new game on release or even while on sale for their children.
Speaking from experience, some of my greatest gaming nights have been round at friends’ houses watching them play their new game while having a little go myself.
You see, that’s the beauty of the gaming community – it’s a supportive sharing space where we want to see everyone join in on the fun.
After COVID all but wiped out trips to see a movie on the silver screen, film studios are now having to contend with the cost of living crisis and audiences preferring to wait for digital releases instead of spending money at the cinema.
For those concerned about a $100 starting point for GTA VI, or indeed if it becomes the new standard for video games, Mr Pachter is advising to similarly wait it out.
He said: “Like theatrical releases, game prices decline over time.
“Rockstar can charge $100 for six months, can drop to $70 for six months, then drop periodically thereafter.
“Nobody has to ‘afford’ $100; they all know they can wait.”
Even if GTA VI fans do wait it out for a cheaper price or for it to potentially drop via Xbox Games Pass, Mr Pachter is confident that will not affect Rockstar’s overall success.
He said: “There is no question they will sell 100 million copies – or more – eventually.”
So, while there is little doubt all eyes will be on GTA VI’s launch, the lasting question is whether other studios will attempt to follow suit if we do indeed see a price rise.
But a word to the wise, there are few games with a legacy as formidable as GTA and any price increase may turn out to be the exception rather than the rule.
As career criminal and former bank robber Trevor Philips (GTA V character) nicely put it: “I said something nice, not expensive.”
