As GTA approaches, console prices are rising at an inopportune moment.
The arrival of Grand Theft Auto VI is a monumental event, a cultural touchstone that drives gamers to invest in new consoles just to experience it. This title is the quintessential “system seller,” and there’s a significant crowd of players who have been holding off on console upgrades, primarily because they’ve been content with GTA V since its release. However, there’s a major hurdle: as excitement builds for GTA VI, the hardware required to play it is becoming increasingly pricey.
Fans have been eagerly anticipating the next installment for years. GTA V debuted in 2013 and has since been adapted for various console generations and PC, becoming one of the most profitable entertainment products ever, thanks in part to its enduring online mode. The anticipation for GTA VI is unprecedented, with its launch on November 19th for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S expected to be so significant that other titles are shifting their release dates to avoid being overshadowed.
When Rockstar first announced the game’s development in 2022, the pricing landscape for consoles was quite different. The PlayStation 5 launched at $499.99 for the standard model, but after a couple of price increases, it now retails for $649.99. If you’re considering the more powerful PS5 Pro—likely a smart choice for a resource-heavy game like GTA VI—you’re looking at a price tag of $899.99. On the Microsoft side, the Xbox Series consoles have seen three price hikes since 2025, with the Series S now at $499.99 and the Series X reaching $799.99. Both have increased significantly from their original prices.
These price jumps contradict the common belief that buying a console at launch is a poor investment, as prices typically rise over time. This is especially relevant for a title like GTA VI. With preorders now available, it seems unlikely that the game will face further delays. This means that players needing to upgrade their consoles will face some serious sticker shock, regardless of whether they choose Xbox or PlayStation. Many may hesitate to spend over $600—or even more—just to play one game, leading some to wait for potential price drops.
There are additional challenges surrounding the launch of GTA VI. Priced at $79.99, it’s more expensive than most games, and there’s some backlash regarding the physical version lacking a disc. However, these issues are minor compared to the significant impact that rising console prices could have on the game’s overall success.
To put things in perspective, GTA V has sold an astonishing 230 million copies across PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, and three generations of Xbox. Even if every current PS5 and Xbox Series X/S owner bought GTA VI, it wouldn’t come close to that figure. The PS5 has an install base of just over 90 million, while Microsoft’s current-gen Xbox sales are around 30 million. While that’s a decent number, it’s unlikely to grow significantly given the recent price hikes, and PS5 sales are already plummeting due to the new pricing.
The situation isn’t expected to improve anytime soon. Microsoft has indicated that “console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027.” While it’s almost certain that GTA VI will eventually make its way to PC, the rising costs of components mean that building or buying a capable gaming rig is also becoming a pricey endeavor. For instance, Valve’s Steam Machine starts at $1,049. If you don’t already have the necessary hardware, diving into the next Grand Theft Auto could be a hefty investment.
Even if GTA VI doesn’t replicate the explosive success of its predecessor, which raked in a billion dollars within three days, it will still be a massive success. Few titles are truly “too big to fail,” but GTA VI might just be one of them. These games often have a long lifespan—GTA V continues to sell well over a decade later—so there’s ample time to reach its full audience. However, the current state of modern gaming consoles is significantly limiting the number of players who can access the game at launch. The wait has been long, and the costs are only adding to the challenge.
