Take-Two Interactive, the publisher of Grand Theft Auto, spearheaded the trend of $70 AAA game pricing. Concerns exist that they might increase prices even further with Grand Theft Auto 6.
While a standard edition of GTA 6 might remain in the $70 range, avoiding a price point of $80-100, industry insiders suggest a premium edition priced at $100-$150 could be offered, possibly including early access.
According to Tez2, Rockstar/Take-Two's established practice of selling online components (GTA Online and Red Dead Online) separately will continue with GTA 6. However, GTA 6 will be unique in offering online access as a standalone product at launch, while the story mode will be part of a comprehensive package encompassing both.
This dual-release strategy necessitates careful pricing considerations. The cost of the standalone online component will impact the overall price. Furthermore, the price of upgrading to the full story mode for those who initially purchased only the online version remains undetermined.
A lower price point for the online version could attract players with budget constraints who might otherwise be unable to afford the $70 or $80 full game. Take-Two could then profit from these players upgrading to access the story mode. Conversely, some players might desire the story mode but lack the funds for the upgrade.
This situation presents an opportunity to implement a subscription model similar to Xbox Game Pass, leveraging GTA+. Players who opt to continue playing via subscription rather than saving for an upgrade would generate ongoing revenue for Take-Two. This represents another potential revenue stream for the publisher.
