Analyst says GTA 6 price $80 is too low, suggests $200

A prominent technology analyst has argued that Rockstar Games is significantly undervaluing its upcoming title, Grand Theft Auto 6, suggesting its announced $80 price tag is "ridiculous" and should be closer to $200. The comments, made by Stratechery founder Ben Thompson during a July 8 interview on the TBPN podcast, have ignited fresh debate over video game pricing just months before the highly anticipated sequel's release.

Rockstar Games revealed the pricing structure for Grand Theft Auto 6 last month. The standard edition will cost $79.99, while an Ultimate Edition with additional cosmetic content will be priced at $99.99. The game is scheduled for a global launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 19, 2026, concluding a development cycle reported to have spanned over 13 years.

In his interview, Thompson framed the game as a unique artistic achievement, calling it "the last great game" and "the pinnacle of AAA craftsmanship." He argued its value stems from being created largely before the widespread integration of artificial intelligence tools in game development, representing years of intensive, handcrafted work. Thompson stated he felt compelled to purchase...