GTA 6 Will Beat Avengers: Endgame – GTA 6 Is Creating Massive Financial Expectations With $3.2 Billion Projected Revenue

SUMMARY

• GTA 6 is projected to generate $3.2 billion in first-year revenue, surpassing Avengers: Endgame's $2.8 billion.
• $1 billion of GTA 6’s revenue is expected from pre-orders, because of its unprecedented global anticipation.
• A big part of this hype has been thanks to Rockstar Games' secrecy regarding any details.

Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) is being predicted to be a game-changer. Not just for the gaming industry but for the entertainment industry as a whole. Early predictions from analysts reveal that the game will make $3.2 billion in revenue in the first year.

Rockstar is getting ready to rake in the cash. | Image Credit: Rockstar Games

The highly anticipated sequel to GTA V is not just a gaming event but a cultural phenomenon, expected to surpass the revenue of blockbuster films like Avengers: Endgame and Avatar. With its fall 2025 release window, GTA 6 is already setting financial and creative expectations sky-high.

GTA 6 is going to make billions according to analysts

It’s gonna be even bigger than Avengers: Endgame | Image Credit: Rockstar Games

According to Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick, GTA 6 is projected to set a new standard for entertainment launches. As reported by the Financial Times, analysts at DFC Intelligence believe that the game will make $3.2 billion in its first year alone and that pre-orders alone will account for the first $1 billion of revenue. Considering the leaked budget, it better make a lot.

It's gonna make a billion on pre orders alone

The price point of $69.99 per copy suggests that GTA 6 would need to sell approximately 40 million units in its first year to meet the $3.2 billion target. Given the massive install base of consoles like the PlayStation 5, which accounts for 68% of the market share (via Rockstar Intel), the forecast appears achievable. According to this, 45% of PS5 owners could purchase the game within its first year.

When Avengers: Endgame premiered in 2019, it broke numerous records, including becoming the fastest film to reach $500 million, $1 billion, and $2 billion at the global box office. With a production budget of $356 million and an additional $200 million in marketing, it needed $1.1 billion to be considered a success. Ultimately, it surpassed expectations with a final gross of $2.799 billion.

It better not be just GTA V but with better graphics dawg this game better let me go to space for waiting this long

The GTA 6 projections are much higher still. The game’s anticipated $3.2 billion first-year revenue only accounts for direct sales, excluding additional income from any GTA Online microtransactions that might be added, which have historically been a significant revenue stream for Rockstar. GTA V, released in 2013, generated $1 billion in just three days and has since gotten $8.5 billion in lifetime revenue.

The hype is there, but is Rockstar going to deliver?

Grand Theft Auto 6 will change the world. | Image Credit: Rockstar Games

With a predicted first-year revenue that could eclipse even the highest-grossing films, GTA 6 is poised to redefine what a blockbuster means. Its success will likely inspire other game developers and media creators to rethink their strategies. As Yoshio Osaki, CEO of IDG Consulting, put it, GTA 6 could be “one of the biggest entertainment launches in history, not just in games but for all of media.“

Part of GTA 6’s massive appeal lies in Rockstar’s marketing strategy—or lack thereof. The December 2023 trailer has gotten over 230 million views, and the company has since kept details about the game tightly under wraps. This scarcity of information has only gotten people speculating harder.

While the projections for GTA 6 are staggering, the pressure on Rockstar Games to meet or exceed these expectations is equally immense. The studio’s legacy includes iconic titles like GTA: San Andreas and Vice City, along with the transformative success of GTA Online. We’re definitely excited to see if Rockstar can deliver in an era of increasing demands and failures.

What are your expectations for GTA 6? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Written by Daniel Royte

Articles Published: 654

Daniel is a gamer through and through with a passion for gaming in his veins. His current adventures have taken him into the world of Elden Ring, Wuthering Waves, and Genshin Impact, amongst others.