Summary
A new report from the managing director of an equity research group indicates thatGrand Theft Auto 6could potentially hit the market with a much higher price point than some might expect. WithGrand Theft Auto 6expected to follow in the footsteps of its predecessors in terms of popularity and sales, Rockstar Games and parent company Take-Two Interactive may be pushing the envelope in terms of price.
Certain game and console launches have been so anticipated that they’ve had a tangible effect on real life, with gamers going so far as to call in sick when major titles likeGrand Theft Auto 5,Skyrim, or systems like the Nintendo Switch came out. WithGTA 5still showing up on best seller listsall these years after its initial launch, Take-Two Interactive may be able to priceGTA 6higher than most games and still see extreme demand.
Now, Michael Pachter, the managing director of Wedbush Securities' equity research (viaVideoGamesChronicle), has stated thatGrand Theft Auto 6could sell for $100 or even more. Pachter notes that the path for Take-Two Interactive to sell the game at this price point would be to tie it intoGrand Theft Auto Online, giving players a “large amount” of the online component’s currency. Pachter points toCall of Duty’s success withWarzoneandCall of Duty Mobile, stating that the integration of the online game experience with a “premium game” led to a 40% increase in sales. Take-Two Interactive, on the other hand, has notably beenpushing the envelope on game prices since 2020’sNBA 2K21release.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Could Signal a Change in the Industry
Much aboutGTA 6is still being kept under wraps, so the actual price the game will go for is still up in the air. However, it seems that the game industry as a whole may be watching with bated breath to see what happens with the nextGTA. It’s been suggested that ifGrand Theft Auto 6launches for a higher price, other games may follow suit. Gamers have been resistant to price increases on video games despite inflation and the overall cost of development going up. In essence,GTA 6has the potential to break the glass ceiling and normalize higher prices for video games.
However, there are still some caveats to this. WhileGTA Onlinehas been very popular, not every player who enjoys the single-player story experience ofGrand Theft Autogames will want to play online with others. Additionally, it’s not clear if Pacther is referring to thecurrentGTA Onlineexperience, or a new version based uponGTA 6. WhileGTA Onlinestill maintains a strong playerbase and just released an improved version for PC, gamers may not be enthused about spending up to $100 to get currency in an old online game. Thus far, Rockstar Games hasn’t indicated whether a new version ofGTA Onlinewill launch alongsideGTA 6.
