Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter nearly caused a riot among GTA fans yesterday after he suggested that Grand Theft Auto VI could launch with a $100 price tag.
While the idea startled everyone in the gaming community, another industry expert promptly stepped in to explain why this pricing strategy would be a terrible business decision for Rockstar Games.
Rhys Elliott from Alinea Analytics broke down the fundamental flaws in the $100 pricing argument, and his reasoning makes perfect sense when you look at the bigger picture. The core issue isn't whether Rockstar could get away with charging $100 for GTA 6 - they absolutely could - but whether they should.
The franchise is a cultural juggernaut that has dominated entertainment for over a decade. GTA V alone has moved over 200 million copies and continues selling hundreds of thousands of units monthly on PlayStation, proving the brand's enduring appeal.
The real question is whether Rockstar should price themselves out of their own best interests, and the answer is a resounding no. The most compelling argument against the $100 price point centers on where Rockstar actually makes their money.
GTA Online has become the golden goose that keeps on giving, generating massive recurring revenue through microtransactions, cosmetics, and in-game purchases. A $100 base price would immediately shrink the potential player pool, cutting off the very audience that feeds this lucrative online ecosystem.
Considering the current cost-of-living pressures that are squeezing household budgets worldwide, pricing out potential customers to make a quick buck upfront would be shortsighted. Making the barrier of entry lower will help make the game accessible to more people, who might be amenable to additional smaller purchases over time.
Even more interesting is the unique challenge GTA 6 faces that previous entries never had to worry about: competing with its own predecessor. GTA V has been so successful and enduring that players might simply choose to stick with what they know rather than pay a premium to upgrade.






