Grand Theft Auto VI Will Probably Cost Over $100. Other Video Games Actually Cost More in the 1990s.

Grand Theft Auto VI is already stirring up a fight before it even launches. Rumors are flying that the game could cost more than $100, a number that’s sending shockwaves through the gaming community. But this wouldn’t be the first time players have faced sticker shock; pricey releases go back decades. As Rockstar Games moves toward a likely 2026 release, the real question is whether this price talk signals a turning point for how much we’re willing to pay for games.

Here’s the TL;DR...

• Rumors say GTA VI might top $100, driven by ballooning budgets and industry hopes to normalize higher prices.

• Players are split: some furious, others convinced the scope justifies it.

• Games like Phantasy Star IV and Virtua Racing hit $99.99 in the 1990s, about $200 today.

• Neo Geo titles went for $200, while Chrono Trigger and Street Fighter II sat near the $80 mark.

• CDs and digital downloads cut costs but didn’t stop prices from creeping back up as expectations grew.

• Only collector’s editions tend to pass $100 today, but that could change fast.

• Outrage or not, fans will still line up for GTA VI; they always do.

What Recent Developments Suggest GTA VI Could Cost Over $100?

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has been hinting that Rockstar’s focus is “delivering more value than what we charge.” Analysts like Doug Creutz at Cowen think the publisher might test the waters with a price north of $70, possibly hitting $80-$100. A 2025 Interpret study of over a thousand gamers found most buyers max out at $70, but developers are watching to see if GTA VI can push the ceiling higher. With production rumored to cost more than $2 billion, the business math is obvious.

Why Is Rockstar Justifying a Higher Price for GTA VI?

Big-budget development isn’t cheap anymore. GTA VI reportedly involves thousands of staff and nearly a decade of work, packed with advanced AI, sprawling worlds, and a seamless online mode. Scott Phillips, who designed the original Saints Row, told interviewers in 2025 that “Rockstar’s the only studio that can get away with $100.” It’s a gamble, but they’ve pulled it off before; GTA V is still printing money thanks to online updates and microtransactions. Expect the same long tail here.

How Are Gamers Reacting to the $100 Rumor?

Social feeds are blowing up. One X user wrote, “People were all ready to bend over lube free and drop 100+ for GTA6... The faux outrage over this is laughable.” Streamer xQc chimed in, telling viewers to “stop crying” and just admit they’ll buy it anyway. Still, not everyone’s on board. Interpret’s research shows plenty of players plan to wait for a sale, proof that even Rockstar has a price ceiling to test.

Which Games in the 1990s Cost $100 or More?

Cartridges once pushed game costs sky high. Sega’s Phantasy Star IV dropped in 1995 at $99.99, partly to slow Western sales. Virtua Racing hit the same mark in 1994 because of its SVP chip, which boosted 3D graphics but also drove up costs. Over on the Neo Geo AES, titles like Fatal Fury sold for $200, promising arcade perfection for players with deep pockets.

What Would Those Prices Be Today?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $100 in 1990 equals about $248 in 2025. That makes Phantasy Star IV’s $99.99 in 1995 roughly $195 today. Virtua Racing’s 1994 price tag converts to about $200. When you put it that way, a hundred dollar game in 2025 doesn’t sound so outrageous.

Other Pricey 16-Bit Standouts

The SNES era had its share of wallet busters. Chrono Trigger sold for $80 in 1995, and Street Fighter II routinely hit $70-$80, depending on the store. On the Genesis, Action 52 carried an MSRP of $199 in 1991, though word of mouth quickly tanked sales. Bigger ROM chips meant more storage and bigger costs.

Notable Expensive Games and Their 2025 Equivalents

• Fatal Fury (Neo Geo, 1991) – $200 at launch (~$475 today)

• Action 52 (Genesis, 1991) – $199 (~$473 today)

• Dragon Warrior III (NES, 1992) – $59.99 (~$140 today)

• Street Fighter II Turbo (SNES, 1993) – $70 (~$152 today)

• Phantasy Star IV (Genesis, 1993) – $99.99 (~$216 today)

• Final Fantasy III (SNES, 1994) – $79.99 (~$160 today)

• Virtua Racing (Genesis, 1994) – $99.99 (~$200 today)

• Chrono Trigger (SNES, 1995) – $80 (~$156 today)

• Super Mario RPG (SNES, 1996) – $70 (~$130 today)

• Killer Instinct Gold (N64, 1996) – $90 (~$166 today)

How the Shift to CDs and Digital Changed the Game

Switching from cartridges to CDs in the mid 1990s slashed manufacturing costs from $10-$15 to under $2. That shift stabilized retail prices near $50-$60 for years. Then came digital downloads, cutting out physical production altogether. But players wanted more; bigger maps, longer campaigns, live updates. Savings went to scope, not discounts.

Have Games Ever Topped $100 Since Then?

Rarely for standard editions. Most stay around $60-$70, but collector’s versions break the line. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Collector’s Edition hit $129.99 in 2023. Star Citizen packages have long passed $100, though that’s its own beast. So far, base games have stayed below the triple digit mark, but GTA VI might change that.

Will Players Actually Pay It?

They probably will. When GTA V jumped to $70 last gen, everyone complained, then bought it anyway; 200 million copies later, here we are. If GTA VI delivers even half the spectacle it promises, that $100 will just be another number on launch day.

Hat Tips

• TechSpot – “Gamers aren’t buying GTA VI for $100 – survey shows,” March 6, 2025

• Dexerto – “GTA 6 ‘deserves’ to cost $100 according to Saints Row creator,” October 16, 2025

• GameSpot – “At Least One Dev Hopes GTA 6 Is $100,” October 15, 2025

• Time Extension – “Sega Wanted Phantasy Star IV To Flop In The West,” November 6, 2024

• Time Extension – “Genesis Virtua Racing Port Almost Cost As Much As The Console Itself,” July 3, 2024

• GamingBible – “GTA 6 $100 Price Tag Fears Resurface,” October 16, 2025

• GamesRadar – “GTA 6 deserves to be $100, says original Saints Row designer,” October 15, 2025

• Bureau of Labor Statistics – CPI Inflation Calculator, accessed October 18, 2025

• Wikipedia – “List of most expensive video games to develop,” accessed October 18, 2025

• GameOpedia Blog – “The Decline of Physical Games and The Rise of Digital Distribution,” verified October 18, 2025

Article Compiled and Edited by Derek Gibbs on October 18, 2025 for Clownfish TV D/REZZED