It seems like just yesterday that the cost of AAA games jumped to $70, yet it appears publishers are setting sights on raising prices again with the anticipated release of GTA 6. According to a fresh insight from a video game analyst, there is chatter in the industry about hoping the launch will justify another bump. Gamers should be gearing up to dive into the world of Grand Theft Auto VI later this year on the Xbox Series X|S, hopefully still set at the $70 mark for its standard edition.
Take-Two Eyes Opportunity for Industry-Wide Price Shift
An emerging report indicates that some publishers are betting big on GTA 6 spearheading a price hike for AAA titles. There’s talk that GTA 6 might cost anywhere between $80 and $100 when it hits the shelves in 2025. Mathew Ball from Epyllion suggests, "In 2025, GTA VI’s release will shake things up in terms of both how much time people spend playing games and how much they spend on them. While it’ll likely draw players away from other games, some developers are looking to push the standard price up, breaking that $70 barrier.”
While gamers are used to seeing special editions hit the $100 mark—complete with lots of extra goodies—most big-budget games have been sticking with the $70 price tag since the Xbox Series X|S and PS5 debuted in 2020. Despite this being the norm for a few years now, many players still find it a tough cost to swallow.
Sure, $70 might snag you an epic adventure in Baldur’s Gate 3 or Elden Ring, but there’s always the risk of ending up with something less exciting, like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League or Skull and Bones. As developers aim higher and higher with their projects, costs are climbing steeply; just glance at the jaw-dropping budgets of recent Call of Duty installments. Meanwhile, everyday expenses are growing too, making it harder for gamers to justify spending so much on titles that might not live up to expectations.
There’s a strong possibility that GTA 6 will prove to be worth every cent; Rockstar has indeed built a reputation for delivering quality. However, not every company has earned the same level of trust from gamers, which explains why many are leaning towards Game Pass for new experiences or waiting patiently for sales.
With current trends, it’s no surprise we’re seeing Microsoft make moves like porting Xbox exclusives to other platforms. Some famous Xbox series might even appear on PlayStation this year. PlayStation, for its part, has been branching its games out to different platforms—particularly PC—in a bid to find new audiences to help cover their escalating development expenses.
What’s your take on this gaming price discussion? Would you consider shelling out $80 or $100 for top-notch Xbox games? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
