Even before the second trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI is released, analysts are making bold predictions about the game's pricing. Notably, Wedbush Securities, along with renowned analyst Michael Pachter, suggests that this highly anticipated title could be priced at an unprecedented $100. This proposed premium price point is intriguing, as analysts argue that it could enhance the player experience by bundling in GTA Online currency.
In a recent industry note, the Wedbush team, including Pachter, Alicia Reese, and Kade Barr, asserts that Take-Two Interactive has the opportunity to offer significant incentives for consumers willing to pay $100 or more for GTA VI. By providing players with a substantial amount of in-game currency for use in GTA Online, they believe Take-Two can justify this higher price tag. This strategy not only enhances the value for players but also aligns with current trends in the gaming industry.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this proposal is the uncertainty surrounding the future of GTA Online once GTA VI is launched. Last month, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick hinted that GTA Online might continue alongside the release of GTA VI, albeit as a legacy title. This raises questions about how the two will coexist and what content players can expect moving forward.
The Wedbush analysts draw comparisons to the success of Call of Duty: Warzone and its mobile version, which reportedly contributed to a 40% increase in sales of the Call of Duty premium titles. Although Activision and Microsoft have yet to confirm these figures, the potential for Take-Two to adopt similar strategies to boost GTA VI sales is evident. This integration could lead to heightened interest and ultimately a stronger performance in the market.
It's important to note that Wedbush is not the first entity to propose a $100 price point for GTA VI. Last year, Michael Douse, director of publishing at Larian Studios, also suggested that GTA VI could signal a shift towards more expensive games in the industry. However, many conversations surrounding game pricing often overlook the fact that deluxe and collector’s editions of major titles have already been priced higher at launch.
Research firm DFC Intelligence predicts that GTA VI could sell as many as 40 million copies within the first year of its release, potentially generating $3.2 billion in revenue for Take-Two. This substantial financial forecast, combined with the anticipated release of the Nintendo Switch 2, is expected to contribute to a significant rebound in the video game industry this year, according to Circana.
GTA VI is currently on track for a Fall 2025 release, although Zelnick has acknowledged that delays are a possibility. With the recent announcement of Borderlands 4 set to launch on September 23, a more specific release window for GTA VI may soon become clearer. Analysts speculate that October and November could be likely months for the game's launch, with Pachter even suggesting a potential Halloween release on October 31. This would follow a historical pattern, as previous games in the Grand Theft Auto series, such as GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas, were also released in October, albeit over two decades ago.
