GTA 6 is unlikely to hit the $100 price point, according to a former Rockstar technical director, who attributes this to the success of GTA Online.

There are plenty of questions swirling around GTA 6. What will the gameplay feel like? When can we expect another trailer? What’s the future of GTA Online? But one of the biggest questions is about the price tag. Speculation has suggested it could hit $100, but a former Rockstar employee believes that’s unlikely.

“I doubt they’ll go that route because, while they haven’t officially confirmed anything, they’re likely planning a GTA VI online component, and they’ll want to maximize their player base,” says Obbe Vermeijj, who previously served as technical director at Rockstar North.

“Instead of trying to squeeze out an extra $30,” he adds, “I think they’ll stick to a standard price and focus on generating revenue through in-game purchases over time.” This is a crucial point in the conversation. GTA 6 is expected to launch alongside the next version of GTA Online, which will likely feature a robust microtransaction system and a thriving in-game economy.

Rockstar won’t just rely on game sales for revenue. The $100 price speculation stems from the extensive and costly development process, which has been ongoing for over a decade. Major triple-A titles often struggle to recoup their expenses at current price points due to the massive scale of their production, and Grand Theft Auto games are at the pinnacle of that challenge.

Vermeijj believes GTA 6 will set a new standard for development costs, becoming a benchmark that few games will approach. “I think GTA 6 will be the most expensive game ever made, and it will likely hold that title because AI will take over much of the repetitive tasks that artists currently handle,” he speculates.

“The bulk of a game’s cost comes from artists, which can account for about 70% of the budget,” he explains. “I anticipate that more of this work will be done through AI and procedural generation, which involves rules that create assets. Even animated cutscenes could benefit from this. Motion capture for large crowds is incredibly pricey, and there’s no reason AI couldn’t handle that.”

This raises a broader debate, as the use of generative AI in game development is a hot topic in the industry. However, from a player’s perspective, it seems you might not have to pay more than usual when GTA 6 finally hits the shelves, and that’s a hopeful outlook worth embracing.