How much did GTA 6 cost to make? Budget and estimates

It is one of the most talked-about figures, but it is worth separating the official from the estimated.

What is official

There is no official figure. Take-Two, the company that owns Rockstar, has not published how much development cost. Its CEO, Strauss Zelnick, has acknowledged that development costs for the biggest games have gone up, without giving numbers.

The estimates

• Several press reports and analysts put the cost at over $1 billion, and some raise it to $1.5 billion or even $2 billion including marketing. None of these figures is confirmed.
• If confirmed, GTA VI would be the most expensive video game ever made and would cost more than the most expensive movies.

Why so expensive?

According to press reports, development started in earnest around 2020 and involves several Rockstar studios around the world. Add to that the scale of Leonida: an entire city and state full of detail, licensed music (see music and radio) and years of marketing.

Will it make the money back?

It is the safest bet in the industry. GTA V has sold around 220 million copies and recouped its investment within days of its 2013 launch.

FAQ

How much did GTA 6 cost?

There is no official figure. Estimates put it at over $1 billion.

Is GTA 6 the most expensive game ever made?

If the estimates are right, yes. Take-Two has not confirmed it.

Guide updated November 8, 2026. We will review it with the game in hand from November 19.