Millions of Americans have waited more than a decade for the next Grand Theft Auto game.
Now that the game’s release is just a few days away, there are more questions than simply whether it meets expectations.
What is the exact amount that gamers will spend?
Grand Theft Auto VI launches Nov. 19, with a standard edition priced at $79.99 and an Ultimate Edition costing $99.99.
For someone who has been waiting years to play the game, the $20 difference may not seem like much.
However, the money rapidly accumulates when millions of consumers make that choice.
Additionally, according to Bank of America, the game’s opening-period sales must reach around $1.9 billion in order to meet optimistic Wall Street projections.
That puts enormous pressure on Take-Two Interactive (TTWO), the American company that owns Rockstar Games.
For regular players, there’s a catch as well.
A complimentary month of GTA+, a membership that automatically renews at the normal monthly fee until canceled, is one of the eligible digital purchases.
Additionally, a typical game disk will not be sent to clients purchasing a physical copy. Instead, a download code is included with the package.
Rockstar Games’ official announcement confirms the Nov. 19 launch, edition prices and preorder offers.
With some crucial options, Grand Theft Auto 6 is a long-awaited entertainment buy for gamers.
It serves as a test for investors to see how much people are ready to pay on one of the greatest gaming franchises.
GTA 6’s $100 edition comes with a choice for gamers
Purchasing Grand Theft Auto 6 is more complicated than picking a game and going to the register.
The whole single-player game, with protagonists Jason and Lucia in the made-up state of Leonida, is included in the $79.99 standard version.
Premium cars, weaponry, apparel, and other stuff are included in the $99.99 Ultimate Edition.
Gamers don’t have to pay the extra $20 right now, however.
Owners of the regular version of Rockstar may subsequently buy the Ultimate version upgrade individually.
Rockstar’s official support page explains the differences between editions.
This allows consumers with a tight budget to play the base edition before determining whether or not additional material is useful.
Be careful how you pay for GTA
There’s one more thing to look into.
One month of GTA+ is free for eligible digital purchases if the game is purchased prior to November 20.
However, until terminated, the membership remains at its usual monthly cost.
PlayStation’s official terms confirm the automatic renewal and explain how customers can cancel.
It is important to distinguish between the subscription offer and the guaranty that GTA 6 will arrive with a new multiplayer service.
While GTA+ now offers advantages related to its current GTA ecosystem, Rockstar has revealed the game’s single-player experience.
Additionally, there is a hardware constraint.
Owners of earlier systems won’t get a launch version of Grand Theft Auto 6 since it will only be available on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S.
Verifying the game’s platform compatibility and subscription conditions might help families who are thinking about buying it for the holidays avoid a pricey surprise.
Bank of America sets a $1.9 billion test for GTA 6
Almost as impressive as the game itself are the financial projections around Grand Theft Auto 6.
Grand Theft Auto V generated more than $1 billion in worldwide retail sales during its first three days in September 2013.
Take-Two’s original announcement documented that achievement.
GTA 6 has to almost treble that achievement, according to Bank of America analyst Omar Dessouky.
More Bank of America:
- Bank of America doubles down on its Apple stock bet
- Bank of America has unexpected verdict on AI stocks after post-midterm Democrat sweep
- Bank of America warns of 2027 stock market risk few expect
In a Nov. 11 research report, Dessouky estimated that approximately $1.9 billion in opening-period sales would support expectations of roughly 50 million copies sold during Take-Two’s fiscal 2027.
The projection is predicated on a $90 average selling price.
That is not a distinct retail price that Rockstar has disclosed; rather, it is an analyst’s estimate.
Additionally, according to the bank, 15 million copies sold on the first day would indicate that the game is headed toward its optimistic yearly goal.
Investors should keep an eye on two dates.
Bank of America believes exceptionally strong first-day demand could prompt an announcement as early as Nov. 20.
It expects a more conventional launch-weekend update around Nov. 23.
Take-Two hasn’t committed to either announcement date, however.
The lack of a press release would not prove poor sales on its own.
These massive numbers could appear unrelated to the experience of purchasing a game to players.
However, they show how much the gaming business increasingly relies on blockbuster releases and consumers who are prepared to spend for high-end content.
Take-Two investors face a bigger question after launch
Take-Two has previously shown faith in Grand Theft Auto 6.
For its fiscal year that ends on March 31, 2027, the business anticipates net bookings of between $8 billion and $8.2 billion.
The value of games and other goods and services sold is measured by net bookings. The gross retail sales numbers used in Bank of America’s opening-weekend benchmark are not exactly comparable to them.
Take-Two’s Nov. 9 earnings release confirmed the outlook and described GTA 6 preorders as running far ahead of initial expectations.
According to Bank of America, Take-Two’s midpoint prediction suggests that around 33 million copies of Grand Theft Auto 6 were sold in fiscal 2027.
That is less than both its own projection of 45 million units and the benchmark of around 50 million units that optimistic investors have discussed.
Take-Two has not made their 33 million-unit objective public. The bank’s financial model is the source of the number.
Investors have an incentive to carefully monitor launch success because of the possible difference.
Bank of America maintained its Buy rating and $330 price target on Take-Two, representing nearly 47% upside from the stock’s Nov. 11 price of $224.64.
Selling copies of Grand Theft Auto 6 is not the only longer-term potential.
Take-Two makes a significant amount of money from purchases made inside its current games.
These transactions consist of extra content, virtual cash, and other optional purchases.
Recurring customer spending made up 81% of all net bookings in the company’s most recent quarter.
However, compared to a year ago, that revenue category decreased by 9%, while overall quarterly bookings decreased by 18%.
For stockholders, this makes a significant difference.
That suggests a familiar scenario for customers.
Related: As GTA VI pre-orders break records, investors still need one answer
