The video game industry is on the cusp of a seismic shift as Grand Theft Auto VI, the highly anticipated next installment in Rockstar Games’ iconic franchise, is projected to generate a staggering $7.6 billion in revenue within its first 60 days of release. This bold forecast, outlined by Josh Chapman of Konvoy Ventures in a recent LinkedIn post, underscores the unparalleled commercial potential of the game and its capacity to reshape market dynamics.
Chapman’s analysis predicts that Grand Theft Auto VI will sell 85 million copies in its first two months, priced at an estimated $80 per unit. This projection positions the game to achieve the largest launch in video game history, surpassing the record-breaking performance of its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V, which has sold over 200 million copies since its 2013 debut. The anticipated success is driven by the franchise’s global cultural impact, innovative gameplay features, and a fanbase that spans generations.
Since its inception in 1997, the Grand Theft Auto series has evolved from a niche 2D action-adventure title to a global phenomenon. The franchise’s breakthrough came with Grand Theft Auto III in 2001, which introduced a revolutionary 3D open-world experience set in the fictional Liberty City. Subsequent releases, such as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto IV, built on this foundation, with each title pushing technical and narrative boundaries. Grand Theft Auto V elevated the series to unprecedented heights, generating over $1 billion in preorders and sustaining momentum through its multiplayer component, GTA Online, which boasts 20-30 million monthly active players. Chapman’s projections suggest that Grand Theft Auto VI will not only match but exceed these milestones, potentially doubling the first-year earnings of Grand Theft Auto V, which reached $3.2 billion.
Set in the fictional state of Leonida, inspired by Florida, Grand Theft Auto VI promises to deliver an expansive open-world environment centered around the Miami-inspired Vice City. The game’s narrative will follow the criminal duo Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval, marking the return of a female protagonist to the series for the first time since 2000. The first trailer, released in December 2023, garnered 250 million views on YouTube, with the second trailer, released on May 6, 2025, amassing 90 million views in just 48 hours. These figures reflect the immense anticipation surrounding the title, which has been further amplified by a decade-long development cycle rumored to have cost over $1 billion.
Konvoy Ventures’ analysis highlights several innovative features expected to drive Grand Theft Auto VI’s success. Among them is an in-game social media network, likened to a fictionalized TikTok or Twitter, which could enhance the immersive storytelling that the series is known for. Additionally, the game is expected to incorporate user-generated content (UGC), particularly within the modding community, potentially including creator payouts for map modding and server hosting. The inclusion of an in-game stock market, building on the mechanics introduced in Grand Theft Auto V, is anticipated to create a dynamic virtual economy influenced by player actions across millions of users worldwide. Chapman also estimates that 20% of online players will subscribe to GTA+, a premium service tied to GTA Online, further boosting revenue.
The projected $7.6 billion in 60 days is not merely a financial milestone but a potential catalyst for industry-wide change. Analysts suggest that the game’s premium pricing—potentially ranging from $80 to $100—could prompt other publishers to reconsider standard pricing models, which have hovered around $70 for major releases. The scale of Grand Theft Auto VI’s launch is also expected to influence release schedules across the industry, with some publishers delaying their titles to avoid direct competition. This strategic maneuvering has been described as a “massive game of 4D chess” within the video game sector.
The game’s development has not been without challenges. In September 2022, a significant leak by a hacker known as “teapotuberhacker” exposed 50 minutes of work-in-progress footage, revealing early gameplay and settings. Despite this setback, Rockstar Games has maintained its commitment to quality, with efforts to improve its workplace culture following reports of crunch in previous projects. The company’s focus on delivering a polished product has only heightened expectations for Grand Theft Auto VI.
Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for release on May 26, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. A PC version is expected to follow approximately one year later, in line with Rockstar’s historical release patterns.
You can watch the second trailer for the highly-anticipated game below:
