Grand Theft Auto VI sets $80 launch price for console release
Rockstar’s next Grand Theft Auto will launch above the usual AAA price, and its boxed edition will ship with a download code rather than a disc.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
3 min read
Grand Theft Auto VI will cost $80 at launch, putting Rockstar Games’ next release above the $70 price that has become common for many big-budget games, according to Ars Technica. The report also says the boxed retail version will not include a disc, giving buyers a download code instead.
Rockstar Games said preorders begin June 25. Ars Technica reported that the game is scheduled for release on current-generation PlayStation and Xbox consoles on Nov. 19, with preloading starting Nov. 12.
The retail box is also set to go on sale Nov. 12, according to Ars Technica. That gives buyers of the boxed version time to redeem the code and download the game before launch day.
Higher price, pricier edition
Ars Technica reported that Grand Theft Auto VI will also be sold in a $99 Ultimate Edition. That version is aimed at the single-player campaign and includes exclusive extras, the report said.
Rockstar’s marketing says the Ultimate Edition includes “an exclusive collection of premium vehicles, weapons, apparel, and action threaded across all aspects of” the story. Ars Technica reported that the game will launch first with its single-player mode, while online modes are planned for a later date.
The $80 price marks another move upward for top-tier game pricing, Ars Technica said. The industry shifted from $60 to $70 launch prices more than five years ago, and Grand Theft Auto VI is now arriving above that newer standard.
Industry context
Ars Technica said the move had been expected by some analysts and commentators, with speculation around Grand Theft Auto VI’s price running for years. Some estimates had put the base game as high as $100, according to the report.
The report linked the pricing debate to broader cost pressures in high-end game development. Ars Technica said game prices have not generally kept pace with inflation over recent decades, while development costs for visually ambitious PC and console games have continued to rise.
Large publishers have been spending more on bigger projects because scale, visual fidelity and scope help separate major studio releases from smaller games, according to Ars Technica. The report also said improved development tools have lowered the barrier to making smaller games, even if commercial success remains difficult.
Ars Technica said Grand Theft Auto VI’s initial purchase price is not expected to be its only revenue stream. The report said the online component is expected to include subscriptions, in-game purchases and other ongoing business models after it arrives.
The report cautioned that Grand Theft Auto VI’s $80 price does not mean every major game will immediately follow. Ars Technica said many other AAA releases are still expected to launch at $70 for now, while some smaller “AA” games often debut around $50.
A PC version of Grand Theft Auto VI is expected, but Rockstar has not announced a release date for it, according to Ars Technica.
This story draws on original reporting from Ars Technica.