GTA 6 could be a huge success upon release, as the title is projected to earn 6 billion in its first year

The long-awaited release of Grand theft auto 6 is slated to gross $3 billion dollars in its first year after launch, with $1 billion of that expected amount coming from pre-orders alone. These numbers, calculated by gaming market analysts at DFC Intelligence, would make GTA 6 one of the biggest entertainment releases in history.

THE Grand car theft series is synonymous with blockbuster entertainment, demonstrated by Rockstar Games' latest crime series release: 2013's GTA 5. In early 2024, Take-Two Interactive earnings reports announced that GTA 5 generated US$8.5 billion in worldwide revenue, with more than 200 million copies purchased. This trend is expected to continue with GTA 6, which still has no set date for its release scheduled for the end of 2025. The success of its debut trailer and these numbers revealed, courtesy of Financial Timessuggests that GTA 6 will be another huge success for Rockstar.

Grand Theft Auto 6 will be successful either way, but how successful?

GTA 6 could be the greatest entertainment product in history

The projected numbers for GTA 6 are unlike any other game release, with IDG Consulting CEO, Yoshio Osakiconfirming that "we believe it will be one of the biggest entertainment launches in history, not just in games, but in all media." This stems from a combination of Rockstar's legacy and the success of GTA 5 and its online multiplayer mode, GTA Online. In the first three days, GTA 5 generated approximately $1 billion in revenue and continued to generate billions more with consistent GTA Online and its microtransaction currency called Shark Cards.

The gaming industry has evolved significantly since GTA 5from launch in 2013, with gamers around the world appearing to favor digital sales and engaging with live service titles. GTA Online already borrows elements from the live service model, with its Wild West counterpart Red Dead Online inspiring much more with battle passes, or Outlaw passesbeing available for purchase. However, the $3 billion value estimated by analysts only takes into account in-game purchases, and not any microtransactions. This demonstrates how surprising the success of GTA 6 is.

Rockstar kept GTA 6 details under lock and key

Lack of marketing has become its own form of marketing

While financial forecasts suggest a gaming milestone, Rockstar Games remains extremely quiet about GTA 6. Its debut trailer has racked up over 230 million views at the time of writing, since its debut on December 4, 2023. Fans are clamoring for more information about Lúcia and the other yet-to-be-named protagonist, sparking crazy theories in every corner of the internet. The veil of secrecy has worked as an excellent marketing strategy for Rockstar, as anticipation for GTA 6 has reached an all-time high in the gaming industry.

Despite the immense pressure on Rockstar Games to match the success of games like GTA 5, San Andreas, and Vice citythe projection of 3 billion dollars for Grand theft auto 6 clarifies that the global excitement for the title is colossal. Whether these high numbers are achieved within the first year of its launch or not, a guaranteed expectation is that Grand theft auto 6 It will be a defining moment in the history of gaming, or even entertainment, as a whole.

Source: Mojo Box Office, YouTube - Rockstar Games, weak city, Financial Times