Rockstar Denies GTA 6 Budget Rumor, Yet It Remains Gaming's Costliest Project
Rockstar has disputed a rumor that GTA 6 cost more than $1.5 billion to develop, though it did not reveal the actual budget. A Bloomberg report notes the game is still likely the most expensive video game ever made, surpassing titles like Star Citizen and Call of Duty. Rockstar now has 4,711 staff across 12 offices, up from 2,441 when Red Dead Redemption 2 launched.
Rockstar has rejected claims that GTA 6 exceeded $1.5 billion in development spending, while declining to disclose its true figure. Bloomberg's report still places it atop game budgets, ahead of Star Citizen's $1 billion-plus, Bungie's $250 million-plus shooter, Concord's roughly $200 million deal, and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War's $700 million lifecycle total.
Rockstar's workforce has grown to 4,711 people across 12 offices, compared with 2,441 when Red Dead Redemption 2 arrived in 2018. GTA 6's standard edition is priced at $80, with a $100 Ultimate Edition; expected online multiplayer and a reported early-2027 PC version could add revenue.
GTA 6's scale and price may influence how players judge value, how developers negotiate workloads and budgets, and how publishers set expectations for blockbuster releases. A costly, heavily preordered title could concentrate attention and spending around one product, potentially affecting smaller games and studios competing for the same audience. Its online mode may shape social routines and digital economies for years, while employees across many offices could feel pressure from such a high-stakes launch.