The cost of gaming is going up across the board for consoles and games, which now includes Grand Theft Auto 6 may reach – or even by – the dreaded $100 price tag.

GTA 6 is undoubtedly the most anticipated game of the year (and possibly the decade), but the news fans are most anxious to hear about now that a release date is known, is how expensive the AAA title will be. Gaming industry experts have predicted for a while now that the price has the potential to hover between $80 and $100, but the recent news from Xbox has solidified my belief that GTA 6 will be $100 or above.

Xbox Game Prices Are A Bad Sign For GTA 6

Another Gaming Juggernaut Is Increasing Costs

current situation with tariffs and the ever-changing global economy. A standard console like the Xbox Series X has gone from $499.99 to $599.99, while the Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Special Edition went from $599.99 to $729.99. Some controllers have also had small price increases, and first-party games are up next.

While most gamers haven’t been hit just yet, Xbox confirmed that its titles will increase to $79.99 this holiday season, which likely means beginning around this Thanksgiving. Xbox is an industry leader, just like Nintendo, which means that these price increases to $80 are likely just the beginning. Games haven’t yet hit triple digits, but with other major companies clearing the way through the $80 price tag, Rockstar might feel emboldened enough to go even further.

A $100 GTA 6 Price Point Seems Increasingly Likely

New Pricing Standards And A Long Development Period May Come With A Cost

It’s no question that, whenever Grand Theft Auto 6 comes out, it will be one of the most popular and best-selling games of the year. The hype surrounding the game has reached a fever pitch. Rockstar is in a unique position where it barely even has to market the game, as fans have been creating increasingly wild theories about its first (and only) trailer, which recently sured 250 million views on YouTube.

With that completely unique position in mind, GTA 6 is one of the few games that could price itself at $100 and not worry too much that fans won’t buy it. Since Xbox and Nintendo have already ripped off the bandage for games to cost $80, it’s not impossible that Grand Theft Auto 6 could take the step further to $100. Considering the long development period – Grand Theft Auto 6 has been in development for almost a decade – and the increasing costs surrounding gaming technology, the $100 price tag wouldn’t be entirely unexpected.

With Xbox prices increasing this year, it seems all the more likely the next GTA game will be priced at $100 or more when it releases next May.

There are a few potential reasons why Rockstar might be hesitant to go beyond the triple digit price. First and foremost, there would be player backlash. And those in charge of pricing decisions are likely to keep a close eye on the general response to Xbox and Nintendo’s price increases.

Secondly, Rockstar might not need to worry about recouping their development costs with the initial cost of the game, since it can always rely on GTA Online. The online version of GTA 5 has been raking in cash for a decade, and there’s no reason to assume Grand Theft Auto 6 wouldn’t have a similar situation. With Xbox prices increasing this year, it seems all the more likely the next GTA game will be priced at $100 or more when it releases next May.