The GTA franchise continues to push beyond the boundaries of the games industry. When GTA 3 was released, the PS2/Original Xbox era was flooded with countless open world sandbox games. Nearly every game studio tried their crack at the formula to varying degrees.
GTA 5 continues to sell well across current generation platforms due to its breathing online community. There’s a reason why it has survived three console generations, from the Xbox 360/PS3 days up to the current generation of consoles.
The hype and excitement around GTA 6 is massive. The first trailer has over 173 million views because almost everyone at least knows what GTA is. Rockstar Games are looking to break new barriers once more when GTA 6 launches in 2025 for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.
However, even though many are excited about this project, how much should it cost? The standard pricing of games is still around $60-$70 but some are proposing the idea that Rockstar Games would charge $100 for GTA 6.
While some would be fine with this purchase due to the scope and mass anticipation, the price of $100 for GTA 6 is troubling and should not become a reality.
The effects this would have on the games industry could be damaging and make the consumer bleed more money than needed. GTA 6 is shaping up to be Rockstar’s biggest game yet but should it cost $100 at launch?
Is GTA 6 Worth $100? No.
Before this current console generation started, PlayStation were the first to increase their first-party titles from $60 to $70. They justified this cost because games are growing in scope which means more people are needed to create these games.
People were upset at first but we’ve had it at $60 for a while now. It’s the first price jump since 2005 but if we want the quality and size of the games to increase, the cost has to jump up too. If the product reflects the $70 cost, then so be it.
The problem with GTA 6 costing $100 is the price not necessarily justified in the product. Obviously, GTA 6 has yet to release but we all have an idea of how massive this newest GTA game from Rockstar Games is going to be. No sandbox game on the market is going to be able to reach the same size as GTA 6 but also have the same visual fidelity and compelling gameplay.
If GTA 6 costs $100 and we all buy into it, start to see every major game release to increase then. It already happened with the $70 price point. Certain third-party studios still price their games at $60 while others want to rake in that extra $10.
Even Nintendo jumped on the $70 train with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. While Nintendo have not fully committed to the $70 price tag, it does not mean they won’t charge that price again.
PlayStation games have decreased in sales yearly due to the $70 price tag. Consumers are thinking twice before purchasing a new game now, so was it worth it PlayStation?
There’s no doubt in my mind that GTA 6 is going to sell millions of copies, at $70 or $100. The hype surrounding this title is the biggest we’ve seen in decades but for Rockstar Games to profit an extra $30 from us, it would negatively affect the industry.
Why GTA 6 at $100 is Bad?
As consumers, we want products to be cheaper and as affordable as possible. However, video games are expensive and there’s no doubt Rockstar Games is burning through millions of dollars to ensure GTA 6 is an experience players will never forget.
Does this justify the potential $100 price tag? No, because Rockstar could be setting an example that would bleed into other studios and developers.
Theoretically, if GTA 6 does launch at $100 and ends up selling millions of copies on launch day, expect PlayStation, Xbox, and other third-party studios to follow in this pricing.
Not to say every major release will be $100 but what’s stopping PlayStation from making Marvel’s Wolverine to $100 now? GTA 6 already set the standard and we, as the consumers, bought into it.
If GTA 6 does actually end up costing $100, I’ll be saving my wallet from this transaction. It’s not worth the rippling tide of more expensive triple-A games we would see in the future. Vote with your wallet and the studios will have to listen.
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