The launch of Grand Theft Auto VI could make history in 2025 as the biggest entertainment release of the year. With projected revenues of $3.2 billion in the first twelve months, the game even surpasses blockbuster films like Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine. According to market research firm DFC Intelligence, pre-sales alone could reach the $1 billion mark.
The release of the game by Take-Two Interactive coincides with a period in which the video game industry is struggling with declining growth following a pandemic-driven boom. Since 2022, more than 33,000 employees worldwide have lost their jobs, including nearly 15,000 in 2024. Affected companies include major publishers like Take-Two, Electronic Arts, and Ubisoft.
Despite the Market Weakness, GTA VI Could Become a Gamechanger.
The production costs of the game are estimated at up to 2 billion US dollars, including planned content updates. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick remains optimistic: "Rockstar Games has massively improved the technical fundamentals. We no longer expect challenges like those at the launch of GTA Online eight years ago.
Unlike annual releases such as Call of Duty or EA Sports FC, GTA remains an exceptional phenomenon with its long development cycles. Nicholas Lovell, games consultant, describes it as "the last hurrah of such a business strategy." Whether it truly marks the turning point in the struggling gaming industry remains to be seen.
