GoKawiilGTA 6's development costs dwarf other AAA game budgets like Cold War and Horizon
Court documents and industry estimates show major games like The Last of Us Part II and Horizon Forbidden West cost over $200 million each, while Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War topped $700 million across its life cycle. GTA VI, in development for nearly a decade, is expected to surpass all of these figures even before factoring in its eventual online mode.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
These ballooning budgets reflect how open-world games now rival Hollywood productions in scale, requiring massive teams sustained over many years. Rockstar's continued success monetizing GTA V's online mode a decade after launch suggests the company has a proven model to recoup GTA VI's enormous costs through ongoing microtransactions.
- Sony spent over $200 million each on Horizon Forbidden West and The Last of Us Part II.
- Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War development costs exceeded $700 million over its lifecycle.
- GTA VI's near-decade-long development is expected to eclipse these figures, excluding its future online component.
Sony PlayStation 5 DualSense Wireless Controller — If you're counting down to GTA 6, a spare DualSense is the easiest way to be ready on day one — haptic feedback and adaptive triggers make big open-world blockbusters feel that much more immersive. It's also handy for co-op sessions with the other huge titles mentioned here, like Horizon Forbidden West.
See Sony PlayStation 5 DualSense Wireless Controller on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: engadget.com — Calvin Wankhede, 2026-08-29
Published there as: “The wildest video game budgets can't hold a candle to GTA 6”
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