GTA 6 PS5 PlayStation

Last week, analyst Matthew Ball of the firm Epyllion resurrected the contentious question of AAA video game prices, suggesting that there's "hope" in the industry that the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 will break the "key price barrier" that currently keeps them at around $70 (or your local equivalent).

Higher prices were intimated, but not everyone believes that what might theoretically fly for Rockstar would or even could be adopted by anyone else, let alone the industry writ large. Presenting a new perspective, the oft-cited Mat Piscatella of Circana seems to think the proposition is, quite frankly, "ridiculous". After all, more and more publishers and developers already successfully get away with charging $100, sometimes obscenely more, in exchange for digital offerings and bonus goodies for what, at launch, is the base game.

IGN spoke to several analysts on the subject, most of whom don't believe GTA 6 will be priced higher than $70. MIDiA's Rhys Elliott said: "There's no need to make the base price of any game $100. Special editions, collector's editions, gold/silver editions, etc, do the same thing, and a high percentage of day-one buyers jump on those at their elevated price points. There's just no need."

At this point, it feels like the inertia of GTA 6 will guarantee it's a hit at any price point. Elliott suggests Rockstar could potentially tarnish its reputation and goodwill with gamers for what is, ultimately, chump-change. We aren't thinking nearly big enough, it seems. The analyst expounds:

"GTA 6 is going to be a cultural phenomenon and could bear a $100 price point, but player backlash would be significant, which would be a short-term gain at a long-term cost. Maximizing day-one premium revenues and giving mass consumers sticker shock is not the play here, especially in today’s economy. Many gamers will play through GTA 6’s single-player; online is where the engagement – and recurring revenue spend – happens. It’s where the actual revenue comes in. Rockstar would not want to limit its total addressable market there."

What do you think? Will GTA 6 be the paradigm-shifting event many in the industry seem to believe? Do you think it will cost $70, $100, or something else entirely? Sift through the tea leaves in the comments section below.

[source ign.com]