A $100 price tag for Grand Theft Auto VI has sparked controversy among gamers, with some questioning whether it’s worth the cost. According to Wedbush Securities’ managing director of equity research Michael Pachter, Take-Two Interactive is aiming for a “previously unheard of price point” for GTA VI, provided it comes with fake money usable in GTA Online.
GTA Online has been a major revenue stream for Take-Two, generating over $9.54 billion since its launch in 2013. Pachter suggests that the online multiplayer mode could be infused with single-player elements, requiring players to load into online to complete missions and unlock content for single-player play.
If released at launch, GTA VI’s $100 price tag might include a set amount of in-game credits for purchasing items in GTA Online, as well as access to upcoming DLC add-ons. However, this is not new – many games sell season passes for future content before launch.
Take-Two makes most of its money through subscription fees and microtransactions in GTA Online. Pachter notes that a live service model worked well for Activision’s Call of Duty Warzone, which exploded in popularity after being broken off into a free-to-play mode. If done smartly, GTA Online could be designed to make players feel like they’re getting value for their money.
Industry insiders suggest that a $100 price point for GTA VI could set a precedent throughout the industry, allowing publishers to squeeze customers for more money on every game purchase. However, some analysts believe that prices have not kept pace with inflation, making it difficult for developers to be paid fairly.
In development, GTA VI is estimated to cost between $500 million and $1 billion. Pachter notes that this is a significant investment, but the question remains whether it’s worth pricing consumers out of big games.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/would-you-pay-100-grand-theft-auto-vi-2000572522