Over the past few years, Rockstar Games has been linked to a number of high-profile sequels, including the likes of Bully 2, a mystery game which could include Virtual Reality elements, without even mentioning GTA 6. There’s no doubt that the next big project from the studio is hotly anticipated, but for now, we only know of one franchise that is definitely getting a sequel. And from what has been shared recently, gamers have a long wait ahead of them before they get to play it on PS5 or Xbox Series X.
It’s now being predicted that the earliest GTA 6 will be launched is 2022, and it could be longer, depending on if more time is needed.
Several of Rockstar Games’ most recent projects have required much longer to complete, with the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2 needing almost a year more to finish.
To fill the gap, GTA 5 will be released on PS5 and Xbox Series X as a new “enhanced and expanded version”.
Rockstar has promised technical improvements, visual upgrades and performance enhancements to take full advantage of the latest hardware.
And with the PS5 and Xbox Series X set to be major upgrades on current-gen consoles, this could mean big things.
A new standalone version of GTA Online is also in the works and is being launched in the second-half of 2022.
This would prove perfect timing if Grand Theft Auto Online is se to its own path after support for GTA 5 has ended.
So with GTA 6 now expected on PS5 and Xbox Series X, gamers can probably expect it to cost more than current-gen games.
Developers 2K, who share the same parent company as Take-Two Interactive, has confirmed that NBA 2K21 will cost more on PS5 and Xbox Series X, or the PS4 and Xbox One versions.
A $10 increase for NBA 2K21 is probably the first sign that next-gen games will cost more across the board.
According to Barrons, analysts have been quick to track the change, noting that Take-Two Interactive shares have appreciated.
“When adjusted for inflation, as Barclays analyst Mario Lu put it in a note to clients on July 9, the 2005 price of $60 would be about $80 in 2020 dollars,” the report from Barrons adds.
“As a result, we believe the shift from $60 games to $70 is more than justified and therefor expect [several] impacts from the price increase.”
“Bernstein analyst Todd Juenger also sees the increase as net positive for the industry, writing in a Thursday note to clients that a higher price means fatter margins and better unit economics.
“Juenger raised his target price on Take-Two to $189 from $158, bumped Electronic Arts (EA) to $134 from $126, and boosted Activision Blizzard (ATVI) to $65 from $59. Juenger rates Take-Two and EA the equivalent of a Buy and Activision a Sell.
“For Take-Two, Lu’s team estimates a 2% bump in gross margins, but a significant increase in total dollars.
“We estimate gross profits will increase by $5-$6 for both physical and digital unit sales.” In other words, the benefits will flow pretty directly to the bottom line.
“He estimates that 36% of the company’s game titles will see a price increase in 2021.”
As noted above, there is a good chance that more games will achieve a higher price next year and beyond.
So it wouldn’t be surprising to find that GTA 6 will cost a bit more than Grand Theft Auto V when it does arrive.