A sprawling story, a possibly record-setting price tag, and yet another delay — Grand Theft Auto VI is shaping up to be Rockstar’s biggest swing ever. But is it too much, too late?
In the decade-plus since Grand Theft Auto V reshaped open-world gaming, few titles have carried the seismic weight of its follow-up. GTA VI isn’t just a game — it’s a cultural event in waiting, one already marred by leaks, delays, and now, a brewing storm around its rumored $100 price point. Throw in hints of a globe-trotting story and a possible pushback to late 2026, and Rockstar’s most ambitious project yet is suddenly looking like its riskiest.
Let’s break it all down: what’s happening, why it matters, and how this triple-threat of controversy could reshape not just GTA VI — but the very fabric of AAA game publishing.
💸 $100 For a Base Game? The Leak That Won’t Die
First, the price tag. According to a new leak reported by GamingBible, Rockstar is considering a tiered release for GTA VI, with the top-end version potentially hitting the $100 mark. The leak suggests multiple editions — Standard ($70), Deluxe ($90), and Premium ($109.99) — with higher tiers offering early access to GTA Online, exclusive cosmetics, and potential single-player perks.
This isn’t a new tactic in the industry. Ubisoft, EA, and even Activision have dabbled in multi-tier pricing. But GTA VIwouldn’t be just another $100 game. It would be the one to normalize the price.
And that’s what has players nervous.
“If the base game is $100, what’s left for DLC or shark cards?” asks one Redditor on r/GTA6.
“I’ve spent less on rent than I will on this game,” jokes another.
The backlash, while not universal, highlights a growing fatigue among players who see this as the natural endpoint of an increasingly predatory pricing structure in AAA gaming. But it’s not without defenders.
“You’re getting hundreds of hours of content. That’s less than $1 an hour,” one Twitter user pointed out. “Netflix costs more and gives you Riverdale.”
Fair point, but the bigger issue here is trust. Rockstar’s reputation for quality is unmatched — but so is their history of monetization. GTA Online became a cash cow precisely because it fused content with microtransactions. If players are being asked to cough up $100 up front, many are wondering: what exactly are we paying for — the game, or the privilege of spending more later?
🕒 The Clock Slips Again: Delay Watch 2026
Next, the delay. Originally expected in fall 2025, GTA VI’s release window was already pushed to May 2026 in earlier investor calls. Now, a fresh leak — this time cross-referencing internal Rockstar documentation with data from a rumored Starfield PS5 port — hints at another delay, this time to September 2026.
Why? Timing.
Starfield’s PS5 launch, reportedly dropping in Spring 2026, could crowd the marketplace. Add in Call of Duty, potential Elder Scrolls VI teases, and Rockstar may be eyeing a cleaner slate in late Q3. September has traditionally been a blockbuster month for releases (hello, Red Dead Redemption 2), and this wouldn’t be out of character for Take-Two.
Still, fans are getting antsy. This is the third unofficial delay for a game that’s been in development for over 10 years. And the longer it drags, the higher expectations climb.
“By 2026, this game better walk my dog and fix the climate,” one user wrote on X.
Of course, delays aren’t inherently bad. If anything, they’ve become industry standard for massive projects. But in Rockstar’s case, silence breeds speculation — and speculation breeds disappointment. Until an official announcement lands, the launch date feels less like a plan and more like a moving target.
🌎 Beyond Vice City: GTA VI’s Expanding Story Scope
Then there’s the most intriguing leak of all: GTA VI’s story might not be confined to the U.S.
According to a report from NDTV Profit, Rockstar may be extending the narrative beyond Vice City (a fictional Miami), possibly incorporating missions in South America or the Caribbean. If true, this would mark the first time a GTA game ventures outside American borders — a monumental shift for a franchise that’s always skewered U.S. culture with surgical precision.
Combine that with the report that the storyline may be the longest in franchise history, and it’s clear Rockstar is swinging for the fences.
This aligns with earlier reports of two playable protagonists — Lucia and Jason — and a Bonnie-and-Clyde-style narrative. Rockstar appears to be building something narratively dense, geographically diverse, and structurally massive. Think Red Dead 2 meets Narcos — a crime epic with international flair.
Why go global? Partly, it’s creative ambition. But partly, it’s marketing. A broader setting means broader appeal, especially in Latin America and Europe, where GTA already enjoys huge fanbases. This could also tie into GTA Online 2, which may take a page from Warzone or Fortnite and evolve into a truly global sandbox.
Still, this raises technical questions. If the single-player spans multiple countries, what kind of load times, world design, and mission structure are we looking at? How will Rockstar maintain its signature attention to detail across vastly different cultures and geographies?
If they pull it off, it’ll be historic. If they don’t, it could feel bloated, fragmented, or worse — tone-deaf.
💬 Player Pulse: Is the Hype Still Real?
Despite the pricing, delays, and scope creep, one thing remains constant: players still care. Deeply.
The subreddit r/GTA6 has over 800,000 members. Every new leak sparks analysis videos, meme floods, and comment wars. Even the most skeptical fans are still watching. Still hoping.
“Rockstar hasn’t let me down yet,” says one long-time fan.
“Except for the part where they stopped updating single-player.” Zing.
The emotional stakes are high because GTA isn’t just a game franchise — it’s a generational marker. For many, it’s a childhood memory, a teenage rebellion, an adult escape. GTA VI represents not just Rockstar’s next game, but their next game. The one they’ve been waiting a decade for.
That’s why every leak hits like a tremor. Every price tag feels personal. Every delay, a betrayal.
📉 Industry Impact: The $100 Test Case
Let’s be clear: if GTA VI launches with a $100 base tier and still sells like hotcakes, every other AAA publisher will take notes. This could reset industry pricing — not overnight, but steadily. We’ve already seen it: $60 became $70. Now $70 could become $100, at least for “premium” experiences.
What’s premium, though? 60+ hours? A star-studded soundtrack? Expansive online modes? Or just “the game you care about the most”?
In truth, this is what GTA VI is testing — not just its own limits, but ours. Our tolerance for pricing shifts. Our patience for development delays. Our appetite for bigness.
If Rockstar sticks the landing, they’ll rewrite the rulebook again. But if they fumble? It’ll be the most expensive misstep in gaming history.
🎯 Final Word
A hundred dollars. An 11-year wait. A sprawling, globe-trotting campaign. GTA VI is shaping up to be gaming’s biggest bet — and maybe its boldest.
But beneath the surface lies a deeper question: how much is too much?
Too much hype. Too much money. Too much delay.
In the end, Rockstar may deliver a magnum opus that justifies every dollar and every delay. But until then, fans are left clinging to leaks, parsing patch notes, and wondering when the next trailer will drop.
And if nothing else, one thing’s for sure: the GTA VI conversation is far from over. In fact, it’s only getting louder.
