GTA 6 Fans Think They've Figured Out the Game's Massive Budget

As one of the most anticipated video game releases of all time, it’s no surprise that there has been tons of speculation surrounding the potential development budget for Grand Theft Auto 6. Previous theories and rumors suggested that Rockstar may have spent approximately $2 billion to bring Grand Theft Auto 6 to life, and although many had dismissed such an eye-watering figure, new financial information from the company has actually lead fans to believe that the budget could be even higher than once thought.

The last time fans were treated to a new Grand Theft Auto game (outside of ports and remasters) was all the way back in 2013, when Rockstar launched Grand Theft Auto 5 and its multiplayer counterpart, Grand Theft Auto Online. Thirteen years later, it’s still going strong as one of the most popular video games of all time. However, its lengthy life span has only increased anticipation for the next installment in the series, Grand Theft Auto 6. While the wait between Grand Theft Auto 4 and its successor was only five years, numerous delays to Grand Theft Auto 6 has resulted in more than a decade of waiting. But with November fast approaching, the wait is finally almost over.

If You Are Buying a PS5 for GTA 6, You Need to Do It NOW

Anyone that is planning on getting a PlayStation 5 for Grand Theft Auto 6 will want to do so now instead of waiting for the game’s launch.

Fans Think GTA 6’s Budget Is $3 Billion

There have already been some questionable rumors regarding Grand Theft Auto 6‘s budget, with the most popular being that it’s around $2 billion. Given that the most expensive video games to date, which include Red Dead Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077, only come in at around $300 – 600 million (including marketing), it’s only natural to be sceptical of such an increase. However, a recent public filing from the UK Companies House has revealed that Rockstar North, which is the lead development studio for Grand Theft Auto 6, has spent approximately $2.1 billion on wages between 2019 and 2025. As marketing has yet to officially begin, this has led many to speculate that the game’s budget could actually be closer to $3 billion.

This might come as a surprisingly large figure, but the Grand Theft Auto series remains one of gaming’s most profitable franchise. Earlier this year, a Take-Two Interactive quarterly earnings call revealed that Grand Theft Auto 5 had now sold 225 million copies to date and likely earned approximately more than $8 billion in lifetime revenue. The title also made $1 billion in its first three days of release, and with hype for its successor being far greater, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Grand Theft Auto 6 smash that record.

However, if this astronomical budget does turn out to be true, it once again raises the question everybody is eager to receive an answer for: how much will Grand Theft Auto 6 cost? Some industry analysts have gone as far to predict that the title could be upwards of $100, which many are rightly concerned about. Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick recently discussed advertising inside of video games, and specifically noted that titles which cost “70 or 80 bucks” should not features in-game ads. This sparked speculation that Zelnick was referencing a potential price point for Grand Theft Auto 6, but the quote was largely taken out of context.

For now, the price of Grand Theft Auto 6 remains a mystery. The good news, however, is that it shouldn’t be long until fans find out more about gaming’s most anticipated release. After two delays, it looks like the next installment in Rockstar’s biggest series is finally sticking to its November release date, as Zelnick recently revealed that marketing for Grand Theft Auto 6 will kick off in the Summer. Of course, there’s still a slim chance that another delay could occur, but it’s unheard of for a CEO to announce the company’s marketing plans. Clearly, Zelnick is attempting to regain the trust of consumers and reaffirm that Grand Theft Auto 6 is on track to launch later this year.