What happened
GamesRadar+ reports on the evolution of game development costs, using the example of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which was made on a budget of around $10 million and went on to generate approximately $600 million in revenue. This is highlighted by veteran game developer Del Walker, who shared an archived news story from USA Today in 2006. The article notes that the game's success was achieved without the aid of DLC, multiplayer, or microtransactions, and that the game's budget, when adjusted for inflation, would be equivalent to around $18 million today. In contrast, modern games, such as GTA 6, have much higher development costs, with some estimates suggesting that they can exceed $1 billion. The article also mentions that the game industry has changed significantly since the release of GTA: San Andreas, with rising development costs and the increasing importance of online components, such as GTA Online.
What remains unclear
The exact development costs of GTA 6 and how it will generate revenue, as well as the impact of the game's online component on its overall success. The article also does not provide information on the current state of game development costs and how they are affecting the industry as a whole.
Source and attribution
Related GTA 6 coverage
Publication note: This source-based report was prepared and published automatically. It has not been reviewed by a human editor. Automated checks do not establish the authenticity of unconfirmed claims.
