The GTA franchise is considered to be the best-executed open-world game. It has been among the most successful gaming franchises ever. According to Statista GTA: Vice City Stories, GTA 1 sold around 3 Million copies, and GTA 2 – Liberty City sold around 11 million copies. GTA III, GTA – Vice City, and GTA IV sold 14.5 Million, 17.5 Million, and 25 Million.
The developers released GTA San Andreas in 2004 after Vice City, and it still holds a special place in the hearts of many fans, having sold over 27 million copies. This game redefined open-world gameplay and set a new standard for future games in the genre.
GTA 5 has now sold over 170 million copies with the GTA series as a whole having sold 385 million copies (up 5 million from last quarter).#GTA #GTAV #GTA5 #GTAOnline #RockstarGames pic.twitter.com/foJv87HcLR
— Gaming Detective (@that1detectiv3) November 7, 2022
GTA V sold over 170 million copies across PC, Playstation, and Xbox platforms as of August 2022. The game has generated a record-breaking over $6 billion in revenue. In contrast, Rockstar’s other bestseller Red Dead Redemption 2, has sold 50 Million copies generating over $1.2 Billion in revenue.
GTA V had a free giveaway for a week in 2020 and sold around 7 Million copies standing as a testament to the game’s quality. After the giveaway, the game sold even more copies through regretful buyers who had missed the opportunity to snag a free copy.
Rockstar has even transformed GTA Online into a profitable revenue source by introducing a new subscription model and implementing regular updates and new missions. They have also enhanced the game with Ray-tracing technology, resulting in breathtaking graphics.
GTA 6’s Massive Budget
Gaming communities worldwide eagerly await the arrival of GTA 6, the next-gen installment of the franchise. The leaks and rumors for GTA 6 have been non-stop since the Rockstar hack. Features include bigger and better maps and city density, new water physics technology to support water sports such as surfing, a lively and dense city with the same multi-character storyline as GTA V, and next-generation graphics.
GTA 6 will reportedly cost $2 billion and has been in development since 2014, making it the most expensive entertainment product of all time as Rockstar is determined to set new standards in the industry. pic.twitter.com/urUxrpnOse
— GTA 6 Trailer Countdown ⏳ (@GTAVI_Countdown) July 17, 2023
GTA V’s success has made Rockstar parent company Take-Two Interactive invest even more in GTA 6 and boosted the budget to more than $2 Billion. The $2 Billion figure was revealed by the 18-year-old who hacked into Rockstar games and leaked in-game development footage.
BREAKING: Alleged images of the 17-year old UK Teen negotiating with threat actors related to Rockstar, 2K, Door Dash, Bank of Brasil, etc.
Happened a few days before his post on the GTAForums
Says GTA 6 in development since 2014, $2 Billion spent so far
Source: @vxunderground pic.twitter.com/Yg2Gb19Spt
— Michael (@LegacyKillaHD) September 24, 2022
These estimates are from last year, and as the game approaches its possible Beta, the budget would’ve ballooned beyond $2 Billion. GTA V and GTA IV were made at more than $200 Million and $70 Million, respectively.
Looking at what Rockstar and Take-Two have accomplished in GTA 5 with a budget of less than half a million dollars, gamers are awaiting GTA 6’s gameplay trailer and update.
Which is the best-selling game of all time?
The fame, familiarity, and hype may lead you to believe that GTA V could be the top seller of all time. But you would be sorely mistaken, as that title belongs to a blocky, retro-styled title called “Minecraft.”
Minecraft, made by Mojang Studios, now part of Microsoft, was released in 2011, selling 4 Million copies, and subsequently sold 33 Million copies in 2013. As of 2022, it stands at an impressive 238 Million copies sold, making it the world’s best-selling game. GTA 5, over 170 Million copies, comes in 2nd for the most sold game.
