The possible price of GTA VI has fueled heated debate for months, with many already assuming a $100 launch. A former Rockstar developer argues that this figure is more internet speculation than insider knowledge. In his view, the publisher’s focus is on long-term revenue rather than a single upfront sale.

There has been extensive discussion about how much Grand Theft Auto VI might cost at launch. As Rockstar’s next major release, many believe it could become the first video game to break the $100 or €100 barrier right out of the gate. This idea has sparked countless debates on social media and inspired numerous theories from industry analysts. Some players argue that such a price would be excessive even for the creators of Red Dead Redemption 2, while others feel that Lucia and Jason’s adventure would justify the investment.

Another voice has now entered the conversation: Obbe Vermeij, a former Rockstar developer. Over recent months, he has shared a wealth of behind-the-scenes insights about the titles he worked on, including GTA III, GTA: San Andreas, and GTA: Vice City, making him one of the few people familiar with Rockstar’s internal development processes during the 1995–2009 period. In a recent interview with GamesHub, he reflected on his career, his experiences with the Grand Theft Auto series, and other defining moments of his professional journey. Unsurprisingly, the discussion also turned to GTA VI, covering its map, setting, and especially its price.

Vermeij pointed out that “Rockstar has never said anything about a $100 price tag; that’s something the internet decided”. According to him, the company’s thinking is likely very different. He believes that Take-Two’s subsidiary probably won’t release the game at $100, largely because GTA VI includes an online component and the goal is to attract the largest possible user base. From this perspective, launching at a standard price and generating profit over the following years through online features makes far more sense.

GTA VI Could Become the Most Expensive Game Ever Developed

Vermeij also emphasized that Rockstar has yet to officially announce anything regarding the price of GTA VI, meaning all current claims remain speculative. What he does consider likely, however, is that Lucia and Jason’s story will become the most expensive video game project ever undertaken. In his view, this record could stand indefinitely, partly due to the growing role of artificial intelligence in game development.

“Development costs are getting a bit out of control. My theory is that GTA VI will be the most expensive game ever made, and it will stay that way because AI will take over a large portion of the monotonous work artists have to do,” he explained. He estimates that artists account for around 70% of a game’s budget, much of which is spent on repetitive tasks such as adjusting animation skeletons, fixing collision meshes, creating low-detail assets, or even building alleyways and interiors that are largely similar.

According to Vermeij, not all of this work will be handled directly by AI, but procedural generation systems and rule-based tools can also play a major role in asset creation. He added that animated cutscenes and motion capture for large crowds are extremely expensive, and there is little reason AI could not eventually replace part of that process.

As AI becomes embedded in more development tools, animation packs, rendering solutions, and compilers, Vermeij believes developers will become more productive, reducing the need for massive teams. He sees this as a positive shift, as lower production costs could encourage publishers to take more risks and invest in bolder projects aimed at niche audiences.

Vermeij estimates that around 1,500 people are currently working on GTA VI, but only 100 to 200 of them are responsible for the truly creative work, while the rest handle repetitive tasks. Looking ahead, he expects games to be made faster and, ideally, at lower cost, which could make the industry more dynamic overall.

The use of artificial intelligence in game development remains highly controversial. Square Enix has discussed relying on AI for a large portion of QA and debugging, Krafton aims to become an “AI First” company, and Larian Studios is already using these tools in the development of the next Divinity. At the same time, many players oppose this direction, and early attempts at fully AI-generated games have been widely criticized for poor quality. Whether AI will truly transform the industry or fade as a passing trend remains to be seen.

Source: 3djuegos