GTA 6 pushes the boundaries: more expensive than the Burj Khalifa!
Development costs for GTA 6 exceed those of Burj Khalifa, revolutionizing the gaming industry. Release 2026.

GTA 6 pushes the boundaries: more expensive than the Burj Khalifa!
The development of Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) sets new standards in the video game industry, both in terms of financial expenditure and player expectations. According to recent reports, the development costs for GTA 6 are over a billion US dollars. Some industry insiders even estimate that the total cost could reach up to $2 billion. This makes GTA 6 the most expensive video game of all time, exceeding the construction costs of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which was built at around $1.5 billion. The Burj Khalifa is the tallest skyscraper in the world at 828 meters and was completed in 2010, while GTA 6 is expected to be released in 2026 and is set in a fictional Miami, report experts from oe24.
Rockstar Games, the responsible development studio, has already used high budgets in the past, as shown by the example of GTA 5, whose development costs were around 265 million US dollars. GTA 5 was released in 2013 and sold over 190 million copies, making it one of the most successful entertainment products of all time. The high expectations for GTA 6 are not least the result of the impressive success of its predecessor, which also influenced Rockstar Games' decision to invest in new technologies and personnel in order to offer a high-quality gaming experience.
Rising production costs
The rising costs of video game development are now a fixture in the industry. One reason for this is the growing demands of players on graphics and game worlds. To meet these demands, Rockstar Games has invested in advanced graphics engines and AI systems, which also drives up production costs. According to the information from gtaup Production costs for AAA games have risen significantly in recent years, which may have led Rockstar Games to consider new pricing structures for GTA 6. Rumors suggest that the price could be over 100 euros for the standard version and over 150 euros for special editions.
Rockstar Games consistently pursues high quality standards, which is reflected in the longer development time. Development of GTA 6 began shortly after the release of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018, which shows how meticulously the new version is being worked on. Such decisions are due not only to rising production costs, but also to the desire to meet player expectations, which are extremely high after the success of GTA 5.
A look behind the scenes of game development
Video game development costs vary significantly. AAA productions, which also include GTA 6, are often associated with costs ranging from 100 million to over 300 million US dollars. These are not only due to the size of the team, but also to the technology used and the requirements for graphics and animation. Teams often consist of several hundred to thousands of employees, which has a direct impact on personnel costs. According to an article on gametainment.net Marketing for AAA titles can even exceed the production budget.
Overall, the high development costs of GTA 6, which are calculated at well over a billion US dollars, not only illustrate the economic importance of the video game industry, but also set a precedent for the future as to what the cost structure in the industry could look like. By doubling the budget for a single game, Rockstar Games could have a lasting impact on the direction of video game development.