GTA 6 Budget Surpasses $1 Billion, Making It the Most Expensive Game Ever

Take-Two has officially confirmed that full-scale development on GTA 6 began in 2020, as noted in the company’s latest financial report. This milestone came after the massive success of Red Dead Redemption 2, which launched in 2018. However, based on the wording, it’s possible that early development phases started even before 2020. By the time GTA 6 releases in May 2026, the total development cycle will be around eight years, according to former Rockstar designer David O'Reilly.

The game's budget has already exceeded $1 billion, making it the most expensive video game ever developed.

Take-Two believes the extended development time is justified, as GTA 6 has become the most anticipated entertainment product of all time. The game's second trailer shattered records with 475 million views across platforms in just 24 hours, while the first trailer racked up 93 million views on YouTube alone within a day.

The company also emphasizes that the scale and complexity of GTA 6 surpass anything Rockstar has done before, and they’re confident the game will exceed player expectations. GTA 6 is currently slated for release on May 26, 2026. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick is confident that the release will take place without further delays.

As a reminder, Take-Two recently announced that GTA 5 has now sold over 215 million copies worldwide.