Take-Two Interactive, the publisher of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, spearheaded the movement towards $70 pricing for AAA game releases. Concerns exist that they might increase prices even further with the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI.
While a standard edition of GTA VI might remain in the $70 range, avoiding a price point of $80-$100, industry insiders suggest a premium edition priced between $100 and $150 could be offered, potentially including early access.
According to Tez2, a known industry leaker, Rockstar/Take-Two will sell GTA VI's online and story modes separately at launch. The story mode will be part of a "complete package" encompassing both.
This separate pricing strategy introduces complexities. The cost of the online component will influence the base price, and the price of upgrading to the full story mode for those who purchased only the online version remains unclear.
By offering a lower-priced online version, Take-Two could attract players with limited budgets who might then upgrade to access the story mode. This creates a secondary revenue stream, as some players may desire the story but lack the funds for an immediate upgrade.
Further monetization could be achieved through a subscription service similar to Xbox Game Pass, potentially leveraging GTA+. Players continuing to play the online version instead of saving for the upgrade would generate consistent revenue for Take-Two. This represents another potential revenue stream for the company.
