Game Analyst Claims $80 Price Tag for GTA 6 Benefits the Industry

How much should the next Grand Theft Auto set you back? One analyst suggests that Grand Theft Auto 6 should be priced at $80, arguing it would benefit the entire gaming industry.

Omar Dessouky, a stock analyst from Bank of America, shared his thoughts during the IICON Video Game Conference in Las Vegas, a new gathering for top executives and leaders in the interactive entertainment sector. He believes that it’s in Take-Two’s best interest, as a major publisher and collaborator with numerous developers, to elevate the price point across the industry.

Dessouky’s remarks, reported by an outlet, followed comments from other conference attendees who expressed concerns about selling their games for $80 if GTA 6 were priced lower. He also noted that the increasing integration of AI technology could enhance the perceived value of games for consumers.

It’s a safe bet that GTA 6 will be among the most significant games ever released, if not the biggest, in terms of sales, scale, and content. Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, recently mentioned in a conversation with Bloomberg that the expectations surrounding the game are “terrifying,” adding that their aim is to provide players with an experience like no other.

“We truly strive to deliver the highest quality entertainment available,” Zelnick stated. “And that comes at a cost. The influence of AI is a factor, but we haven’t seen those costs decrease yet. Perhaps they will, or perhaps they won’t.” He also emphasized that Take-Two must ensure the price feels “very reasonable.”

If GTA 6 does hit the $80 mark, it wouldn’t be the first title this generation to carry a hefty price tag. Nintendo released Mario Kart World for Switch 2 last year at $79.99, although that remains an exception. Microsoft opted against a $79.99 price for The Outer Worlds 2, indicating that not every new release will command such a premium.

Interestingly, this rumored $80 price is significantly lower than the previously discussed $100. As noted by VGC, Take-Two was behind the price increase to $70 in 2020 with NBA 2K21. Will we see a repeat of history?

We’ll find out soon, either during Take-Two’s upcoming earnings call or when Grand Theft Auto 6 finally drops in November. Speculation has been rife about the new Grand Theft Auto potentially retailing for $100.