The hugely anticipated release ofGrand Theft Auto 6is set to bring in an expected $3 billion dollars within its first year following launch, with $1 billion of that amount anticipated to come from pre-orders alone. These figures, which have been calculated by gaming market analysts at DFC Intelligence, would makeGTA 6one of the biggest entertainment launches in history.
TheGrand Theft Autoseries is synonymous with blockbuster entertainment, demonstrated by the latest release in Rockstar Games' crime series: 2013’sGTA 5.As of early 2024,Take-Two Interactive’s earnings reportsannounced thatGTA 5has generated $8.5 billion in worldwide revenue with over 200 million copies being purchased.This trend is set to continue withGTA 6,which is yet to have a set date for itsprojected end-of-2025 release.The success of its debut trailer and these revealed figures courtesy of theFinancial Times, suggests that GTA 6 will be another massive success for Rockstar.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Will Be Successful Either Way, But How Successful?
GTA 6 Could Be The Biggest Entertainment Product In History
The projected figures for GTA 6 are unlike any other gaming launch, with the CEO of IDG Consulting,Yoshio Osaki, confirming that “we think it’s going to be one of the biggest entertainment launches in history, not just in games but for all of media.“This stems from a combination of Rockstar’s legacy and the success ofGTA 5and its online multiplayer mode,GTA Online. Within its first three days,GTA 5generated approximately $1 billion in revenue and continued to bring in billions more with the consistent updates ofGTA Onlineand its microtransaction currency called Shark Cards.
According toBox Office Mojo, the film with the highest worldwide gross is 2009’sAvatarwith $2.9 billion. Based on theGTA 6predicted figures, it could surpassAvatarquickly.
The gaming industry has evolved significantly sinceGTA 5’s release in 2013, with gamers worldwide seeming to favor digital sales, and engaging withlive-service titles.GTA Onlinealready borrows elements from the live-service model, with its Wild West counterpartRed Dead Onlinetaking much more inspiration with battle passes, orOutlaw Passes, being available for purchase.However, the $3 billion dollar figure estimated by analysts only takes purchases of the game into account, not any microtransactions. This demonstrates how staggering GTA 6’s success is expected to be.
Rockstar Has Kept GTA 6 Details Under Lock And Key
The Lack of Marketing Has Become Its Own Form Of Marketing
While the financial forecasts suggest a gaming landmark, Rockstar Games continues to be remarkably quiet aboutGTA 6.Its debut trailer has accumulated over 230 million views at the time of writing since its December 4 debut in 2023.Fans are clamoring for more information on Lucia and the other currently unnamed protagonist, sparkingwild theorieson every corner of the internet. The veil of secrecy has acted asan excellent marketing strategy for Rockstar, as the anticipation forGTA 6has reached an all-time high in the gaming industry.
There’s No New GTA 6 Trailer In 2024, But Rockstar Has Re-Released The First Trailer Again, This Time In Higher Quality
Instead of a new GTA 6 trailer for 2024, Rockstar has uploaded the original in much higher quality, revealing new details about the characters.
Despite the immense pressure on Rockstar Games to match the success of games likeGTA 5, San Andreas,andVice City, the 3 billion dollar projection forGrand Theft Auto 6clarifies that the global excitement for the title is colossal.Whether these lofty figures are met within the first year of its release or not, one guaranteed expectation is thatGrand Theft Auto 6will be a defining moment in the history of gaming, or even in entertainment, as a whole.
