GTA 6 has been on the radar of gamers for years, and as its release draws near, all eyes are now on its price.
Many expected Rockstar's next big title to hover around the $100 mark, but recent listings suggest that it could be even higher.
Swiss retailer Brack has put up a pre-order for the game at 99 CHF (around $112), leading to speculation that the base price of GTA 6 could break past the psychological $100 barrier.
The $112 price tag was first spotted in a now-removed Reddit post.
For a while now, AAA games have been getting pricier, and $70 is pretty much the going rate for big releases. Industry analysts have been predicting a GTA 6 price jump for some time now, mostly because of the considerable costs to make the game and the ever-increasing player demand.
Having reportedly spent more than a decade developing the game, with state-of-the-art graphics and a vast open world, Rockstar is now in a prime position to charge more than ever before.
But does that mean $112 is locked in? Not necessarily. Placeholder prices from retailers aren't always final, and regional pricing differences could explain why Brack's listing is higher than expected.
Still, it's worth noting that Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar's parent company, has been at the forefront of price increases in gaming. In 2020, they were among the first to raise the standard price to $70. If any publisher is going to test a $100+ price point, it's them.
Before you panic, let's take a step back. Adjusted for inflation, video games have always been a pricey hobby. Back in the late '90s, PlayStation 1 games typically cost between $40 and $50, which translates to around $95-$100 in today's money. SNES games were even pricier, with some titles costing the equivalent of $120-$140 today. If anything, the industry has been surprisingly stable when it comes to game pricing, with inflation usually outpacing the increases in sticker prices.
That being said, there's a difference between historical price trends and the consumer mindset. Players have been used to paying $60 for new games for years, with the jump to $70 still being debated. Raising the price to $100 or more could set off a chain reaction, especially if other publishers view GTA 6's price as a reason to increase their own.
Despite the backlash online, there's little doubt that GTA 6 will sell millions of copies no matter what it costs. Rockstar's reputation and the high demand for the game mean that many players will be willing to swallow the price increase, even if it stings.
For now, Rockstar hasn't revealed the official price for GTA 6, so there's still a chance this is all just guesswork. But whether the final price is $100, $112, or somewhere in between, one thing's for sure: the days of $60 AAA games are long gone.
Until then, it's best to stay tuned for any official updates from Rockstar.
But if you were planning to set aside $100 for GTA 6, you might want to add a little extra to that budget—just in case.