Given Grand Theft Auto 6‘s unusually long development cycle—and, we can assume, a sizable budget—many players have worried about what the most anticipated game ever might end up costing. On Tuesday, Rockstar eased that anxiety, stating that the standard edition of GTA 6 will retail for $79.99. Naturally, fans feel both surprised and relieved. Still, a few small points are already triggering complaints.
For a while, gamers feared that GTA 6 could become the first major release to launch at $100 or higher. GTA V isn’t just among the highest-selling games ever—it’s also a title people often buy again across multiple platforms. On top of that, many players put considerable money into GTA Online. If Rockstar wanted to squeeze extra spending out of players with GTA 6, it probably had the leverage to do so.
There’s also a GTA 6 version listed at $99—but unless you’re specifically chasing bonus items such as exclusive vehicles and cosmetics, you won’t need to spend that much to jump into the excitement on Nov. 19. And while $79.99 is a bit higher than the $69.99 most new standard games typically cost, the price still feels reasonable enough that, for many buyers, the premium edition looks attainable.
“Let’s be honest, who wouldn’t grab the Ultimate Edition anyway,” one fan said in a TikTok clip.
“I don’t care; I’ll pay whatever,” another TikTok user replied.
On Reddit, one commenter summed it up well: “Seriously, that’s cheaper than a meal at 5 Guys these days.”
It’s lower than what many analysts had predicted, but some players are still focusing on the trade-offs tied to that price. The so-called physical edition of GTA 6 is, in practice, just a code packaged in a box.
“You will own nothing and be happy,” one YouTube user wrote.
“Forget pre-ordering!,” another fan added in a separate YouTube video. “No genuine physical edition is a major letdown.”
The missing disc may feel especially frustrating at a moment when SSD costs are rising fast. Rockstar’s approach stands in contrast to companies like Nintendo, which has recently started cutting prices for digital editions of major Switch 2 releases.
For some enthusiasts, the most unsettling aspect of GTA 6‘s Ultimate Edition is the way Rockstar explains its pricing. Players usually expect pre-orders to include bonuses that won’t affect gameplay—things like outfits and decals. Add-ons such as in-game currency or weapons are viewed as acceptable, provided they don’t give an unfair edge. Even so, GTA 6‘s Ultimate Edition includes five exclusive shops. These consist of a salon for Jason and Lucia where players can adjust facial hair, makeup, and nails; a streetwear store; a tattoo studio offering 50 ink designs; a contraband hub; and two vehicle customization locations.
Some of what’s offered—like weapons and vehicles—will certainly add to the experience, though not in a dramatic way. On paper, the shops included with the higher price are strictly cosmetic. Still, the enduring popularity of role-playing servers suggests that a big part of GTA’s appeal comes from customizing your character. In a game as polished and stylish as GTA 6, extra customization options that are kept exclusive are likely to trigger FOMO.
“After everything Rockstar did to squeeze resources out of GTA V, I expected some kind of nonsense, but this honestly goes beyond anything I could’ve imagined,” one highly visible Reddit comment about the exclusive shops reads. “This is garbage.”
Exclusivity isn’t the only concern. GTA 6‘s pricier pre-order option is already fueling worries about where the entire GTA series might be headed next.
“With so much important content, it could end up being tied to GTA+,” another fan pointed out, referring to Rockstar’s GTA subscription offering. That service already provides GTA V owners with exclusive vehicles, perks, and clothing, among other benefits. It seems likely Rockstar will stick with the business model that has been working so well for them in its next release.
That said, while some fans are venting their frustration about GTA 6, others are staying calm. After 13 years of waiting, GTA 6 is almost here. It won’t end up costing a fortune, as many feared. Everything else is really just a small detail.
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