One prominent industry research firm predicted that Grand Theft Auto 6 could generate more than $1 billion in revenue from pre-orders alone this year.
The long-awaited sequel from Rockstar Games is officially scheduled for release this fall, and analysts at DFC Intelligence have confidently predicted that it will be the biggest launch of the year in all of entertainment.
Speaking to the FT (paywall), DFC expects GTA 6 to bring in $3.2 billion in its first year of sales. That’s double what its predecessor managed in 2013, and significantly more than the biggest film of 2024, Inside Out 2 ($1.7 billion). Deadpool and Wolverine ($1.3 billion).
Grand Theft Auto 6 will likely exceed $1 billion in pre-orders before its release, according to a video game research group.
Yoshio Osaki, CEO of gaming specialist IDG Consulting, agreed with DFC’s prediction. “We think this will be one of the biggest entertainment launches in history, not just for games, but for all media. “The pent-up demand is greater than anything we’ve seen before.”
In response to these claims, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick told the Financial Times: “I never claim victory until it happens. That said, I think (GTA developer) Rockstar Games will once again deliver something truly amazing. . . “I definitely have high expectations,” he said.
Take-Two recently reiterated that Grand Theft Auto 6’s release date is scheduled for fall 2025.
The first Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer was released in December 2023, confirming the planned 2025 release date. It racked up over 100 million views in just two days, surpassing the lifetime views of the GTA 5 debut trailer and making it one of the most viewed trailers in YouTube history.
