There is a lot of speculation over the cost of Grand Theft Auto 6 right now. One of the biggest rumors circulating is that the game is likely going to cost $100, even in its standard version. While Rockstar Games and Take-Two have yet to comment on any of this, it's interesting to consider. A change like this could affect the entire industry in many ways, but not all of them are bad.

There are some people who would pay $100 for GTA 6, but many fans seem to feel like that price won't be warranted. It's interesting to think about how the gaming landscape would change if Rockstar tried to set a new price standard. Many people may not realize it, but if these rumors are true, this could be the start of gaming becoming a luxury and not a hobby.

8 This Could Make Other AAA Games Start Costing $100

Other Studios Would Probably Follow Immediately

One thing that a lot of people are probably realizing is that Rockstar can influence the average cost of games with Grand Theft Auto 6. A $100 release price could trigger a significant shift in the video game industry. This would cause other big-name games to raise their prices as well. This is because others would follow a major company setting a new price. For example, when Take-Two Interactive raised the price of NBA 2K to $70, it quickly became the standard for most big games.

The financial benefits are too tempting for other companies to ignore. A $30 increase on a game that sells a million copies would bring in an additional $30 million. It normally takes 428,571 units to generate a profit of $30 million at $70 a game. That is not only a significant increase in profits, but also a windfall when units can't meet expectations.

If the GTA 6 $100 price tag happens and other companies follow suit, that would almost definitely raise indie game prices too.

The boost in profits is especially relevant given the high production costs of AAA games. It's not hard to imagine that the higher costs of making games mean a higher cost to the consumer. If GTA 6 sold well at $100, that would set the new standard immediately, and other companies would likely jump at the chance to help solidify this across the board.

7 People Will Be Expecting More To Justify the Cost

It's A High Asking Price For The Same Quality

If GTA 6 came out at $100, it had better be groundbreaking. This kind of jump would be unusual for a standard edition, and people would assume that it either came with bigger gameplay, better graphics, and a lot more that makes it the future of gaming. It raises expectations so high that most other companies would likely fail to meet them. These games would have to be 'game of the decade' quality and players would expect something like Baldur's Gate 3 every time.

The idea that higher prices can cover rising production costs overlooks the risks involved.

This change would put a lot of pressure on other game developers as well. The idea that higher prices can cover rising production costs overlooks the risks involved. If a $100 game doesn't meet these high expectations, it doesn't just bomb; it faces backlash that could destroy future sales and brand loyalty. It just sets the game up for even further failure if that's just a tall boast, much like Skull & Bones did when Ubisoft said the game was AAAA.

It would also likely be the death of DLC, because asking for more on top of $100 could feel like a total insult. And this isn't even consdiering bugs and glitches most games experience at launch. At $100, a game better be perfect on release with no expectation of paying more for more content or waiting until it's the quality players deserve from a completed game.

6 Studios Are Able To Spend More Time On Games if They Recoup Greater Costs

A Good Studio Can Use This Opportunity Wisely

If GTA 6 was released at $100 and other studios followed suit, we would likely see a huge change in quality - at least theoretically. The increase in price would positively affect game development. With more money coming in from each sale, game studios might have more time and resources to work on their games.

This could help reduce the pressure to rush games out or cut corners to meet tight deadlines. As a result, we could see better-quality games with more content, and studios might rely less on additional able content or microtransactions. That is a perfect world-type situation, because we know that some company execs would rather keep the quality the same, so production prices wouldn't increase.

That would mean studios would generate more profit, and there would be an inflation of cashflow without real benefit to the player. This kind of change is what a lot of people fear. So it would lead to better quality, but also more companies trying to take advantage of a high cost.

5 Total Sales of GTA 6 Will Probably Suffer

Not Many People Want To Spend $100 On A Single Game

GTA 6 is one of the most anticipated games of the past two decades. However, $100 would be a big asking price, and not everyone would say yes. Fans were expecting something to cost $70 for years once that price became normal, and if that inflated, it would be tough for many to go forward with the purchase. The high price could turn away many potential buyers.

There are plenty of reasons not to spend $100, from a limited budget, plans for more games at that time, or even not being that much of a fan. A lot of excitement would drive initial sales, but many people would likely choose to wait for the price to go down or look for alternatives. The best time for a clone to come out is when the main game disappointed fans. Just look at Cities: Skylines release after Sim City 5 to see how a giant in a genre can crumble when attacked during a weak time.

GTA 6 would be a smash hit on release only if the price was reasonable. There are too many casual fans out there who would be willing to pay $60, or even $70 game, but who may wait a while for discounts if the game launches at $100. Asking a casual player to spend $100 on a game is like asking a casual sports fan to buy a game ticket - it's not worth it after a certain price.

4 Subscription-Based Models Would Likely Get More Subscribers

Supply & Demand Is Driven By Need & Price

The biggest winner for the industry switching to $100 a game after the GTA 6 release would be Xbox Game . Game thrives on the idea that spending $20 a month is a better deal than buying a bunch of games. It feels like Game partnered with Amazon Fire Stick to bring in more casual players who don't want to buy consoles.

Some people already worry the future will be subscription vs ownership, but it's hard to think of something that would push that narrative more than games costing so much. There are simply too many people out there who would seriously consider going subscription-only if the alternative was $100 a game. It's hard to convince me $100 a game is worth it when you can get a library that grows for $20 a month; that's 1/5 the cost every month.

3 Rockstar Would Get Backlash & Negative Press (At Least Initially)

Vocal Fans & Critics Would Rebel Against The Price

The most obvious outcome of Rockstar releasing Grand Theft Auto 6 for $100 is all the negative press the company would get. Most game price rises have been only $10 at a time, so a $30 boost at once would come with boycotts and plenty of people angry. It's hard to imagine the potential profit is worth being called greedy and out of touch by fans and critics.

The criticism wouldn't just be about the price either. The $100 price tag would be seen as a publisher taking advantage of a loyal fanbase. Other companies would be just as likely not to raise their own prices based on how much backlash Rockstar would get. It's a bad situation for a company to willingly throw itself into.

2 The Average Price of Indie & AA Games Would Go Up

The Entire Industry Would Likely Shift Up

If the GTA 6 $100 price tag happens and other companies follow suit, that would almost certainly raise indie game prices. While some indie developers wouldn't dream of raising their game prices, plenty also need the money. This is a business and if higher prices become normal, the rest of the industry would likely follow suit, independent developers included.

Some indie developers pour years of their lives into their games to just charge $20 or less, and the risk is very little to no profit. It is hard to judge a regular person for charging more when the opportunity arrives when that same person just wants to follow their dream and make a living doing it. We'd have to accept indie and AA game prices rising alongside AAA prices.

1 Gaming Would Decline As A Hobby

Cheaper Hobbies Have More People Participating

It is pricey to get into gaming, but the cost of staying in it is fairly reasonable. You can play games anywhere, including in the comfort of your own home. It's a way to get over a hard day and something that anyone can get into without much skill. Grand Theft Auto 6 selling at $100 would likely be the end of that. It would lead to other companies raising prices and driving away casual players.

If a new game is $100, then a used one would likely be $70, which is too much for many families to justify.

Like many people, my parents bought used games for me, and I got consoles after their generation was years past. I played on a standard-definition television until I moved out and could buy my own console and TV. If games were $100 each, I could never have gotten into gaming like I did. There are plenty of people in that position who would rather spend the investment elsewhere, because gaming would be seen as too much of a luxury.

Grand Theft Auto 6 may not be releasing with a $100 price. Rockstar has never confirmed those rumors, even as the first quarter of 2025 es. However, it is important to think about these things as the industry grows. The speculation alone proves that one decision made by a big company could be the first domino in a series of events that would change the industry forever.