Grand Theft Auto 5is a game that has remained consistently popular for a decade, marking it as one of the most influential releases of all time. As the most recent installment to such an iconic franchise, the title prided itself upon its industry defining experience upon its release.
With the scale and detail ofGrand Theft Auto 5seriously impressing the industry in 2013 and beyond, some may be curious as to how much the game cost to create. Although Rockstar has more than recouped its investment in makingGTA 5, the total expenditure of its development remains eye-watering to say the least.
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Grand Theft Auto 5’s Cost of Development
Grand Theft Auto 5marked the end of a five-year wait for fans who wanted a fresh experience for the franchise. Following 2008’sGTA 4, fans were promised an experience that would turn the franchise’s core gameplay on its head and forever alter expectations. WithGrand Theft Auto 4boasting a budget of around $100 million to make, Rockstar’s intention and ambition was clear from the outset ofGTA 5’sannouncement.
With a game world three times larger than its predecessor and involving three times as many protagonists, the budget ofGrand Theft Auto 5was reflective of its huge scale. In all, reports state thatGrand Theft Auto 5cost a whopping $265 million to develop and publish. This includesthe game’s core budget of around $140 million, plus some staggering marketing costs befitting of such a release.
This total cost has seenGrand Theft Auto 5be labeled as the most expensive game of all time, with the release perhaps owing its continued popularity to this. WithGTA 5’slarge-scale story modeand its addictive online modes, it is clear that a serious amount of financial support was necessary in the game’s development. Regardless, the benefits of this investment reaped dividends for Rockstar, which has enjoyed a commendable revenue stream sinceGTA 5’s2013 release.
Grand Theft Auto 5’s Earnings and GTA 6’s Potential Budget
As well as holding the title for one of the most expensive games of all time,GTA 5also holds another prestigious accolade. Since its release,Grand Theft Auto 5has amassed an estimated $1 billion in revenue. As early as 2016,GTA 5sold as many as 65 million units, with this figure only increasing with each passing year.
Compared to its cost of development and publishing,Grand Theft Auto 5still remains as a staggering overall example of success. Combining with its massive sales,GTA 5has found continued success with itsever-popularGrand Theft Auto Onlinemode. Offering a range of in-game purchases,GTA Onlineis still a huge moneymaker that is showing no sign of slowing down.
Rockstar is already billingGrand Theft Auto 6as a standard-setting release, much in the same way it did withGTA 5a decade ago. WithTake-Two interactive estimating billions in revenue in the coming years, it is likely thatGTA 6will be hoping to make the same strides as its predecessor. If the upcoming release follows the same patterns asGrand Theft Auto 5, then it very well may beat the huge expenditures of the title. As well as this,GTA 6seems like it could very well beat the earnings ofGTA 5, which will be an equally impressive feat.
Grand Theft Auto 5is out now for PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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