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EuroGamer
GTA 6's development costs estimated to be over $1bn, as Take-Two head admits its an "expensive" endeavour
The development costs for GTA 6 have been reported at over $1 billion by Take-Two's CEO Strauss Zelnick. This enormous budget makes it one of the most expensive games ever produced, far exceeding prior high-profile titles. This raises concerns about pricing strategies and market expectations for video games going forward.
MonitorConfidence: MediumShort term horizonExecution risk: High
Published 6 May 2026, 14:54 UTC2 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- GTA 6 development costs are estimated between $1 billion and $1.5 billion.
- This figure is significantly higher than most previous AAA game budgets.
- Zelnick described the project as an 'expensive' endeavor without sharing specific costs.
- Analysts note that past titles like Horizon Forbidden West cost around $212 million.
- The game's release is scheduled for November 19 across PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Interesting facts
- The cost of developing GTA 6 is comparable to major film productions.
- Zelnick's estimate may understate the actual financial commitment involved.
- The upcoming game's pricing strategy is anticipated to be closely watched by the industry.