Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto VI is poised for monumental commercial success, but EA founder Bing Gordon has offered a unique perspective on what constitutes a true win for the game. During an appearance on the Sozzi Unleashed show, Gordon suggested that GTA 6 achieving 75 million copies sold would be "mind-blowing."
Gordon based this ambitious sales target on an estimated collective viewership of 750 million for GTA 6 trailers across the internet. He posits that if the game can capture 10% of that audience, translating to 75 million units sold, it would represent significant success. He referenced the "preview video" as a point of comparison, noting that while no single video has reached 750 million views, the cumulative reach across various platforms is likely substantial. The GTA 6 Extended Look trailer, which premiered on Netflix before appearing on YouTube, is a prominent example.
Beyond sales figures, Gordon presented a more unconventional metric for success: player engagement during a key holiday period. He stated that "what success for GTA 6 is going to be on Thanksgiving Day after eating your turkey, you don't watch football, you play GTA." While acknowledging that playing the game and watching football are not mutually exclusive activities for consumers, Gordon highlights a desire for the game to be compelling enough to divert attention from traditional holiday entertainment.
Gordon also drew parallels to the film industry, where a $300 million box office is considered strong and $1 billion is exceptional. He noted that video games can achieve similar financial milestones, though direct comparisons between the film and video game industries are complex.
Despite the unconventional metrics, current data suggests GTA 6 is on track for a massive launch. Sensor Tower data indicates the game has already seen approximately 7 million copies sold, generating close to $700 million in revenue. Projections suggest 25 million preorders by launch, potentially leading to $2 billion in revenue. Furthermore, Circana reports that nearly one in three console and PC gamers in the US intend to purchase GTA 6, marking the highest purchase intent ever recorded by the firm.