Launching Grand Theft Auto 6 this November will present players with the highest cost of entry in the franchise's history, particularly for those needing to purchase a new PlayStation console. This situation is exacerbated by the game's exclusion of a PC version at launch and its likely absence on less powerful consoles, limiting options to Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.
Historical Console and Game Costs
To contextualize this expense, a look back at the franchise's history reveals a significant increase in the combined cost of a new Grand Theft Auto title and its accompanying PlayStation console, even after adjusting for inflation. The original Grand Theft Auto, released in December 1997 for the PlayStation, cost $50, while the console was priced at $150. In 2026 dollars, this combination would total approximately $415.
Grand Theft Auto 2, launched in October 1999 on PlayStation, offered a more affordable entry point at $150 for both the game and console, equating to about $298 in 2026. The transition to the PlayStation 2 saw costs rise. Grand Theft Auto 3, released in 2001, alongside a PS2, cost $350, which is roughly $660 in 2026. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in 2002, also on PS2, cost $250, or about $462 adjusted for inflation.
By the PlayStation 2 era, prices continued to fluctuate. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, launched in 2004, combined with a PS2, cost $200, or approximately $351 in 2026 dollars. The leap to the PlayStation 3 brought Grand Theft Auto IV in 2008, with the cheapest PS3 option costing $460, which translates to about $561 in 2026. Grand Theft Auto V, released in 2013 on PS3, cost $360, or around $515 adjusted for inflation.
The Grand Theft Auto 6 Price Point
Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to launch in November with an $80 price tag. This launch occurs during a period of heightened console costs, partly attributed to global RAM shortages affecting the industry. The most affordable way to play the game will be on an Xbox Series S, though not necessarily the optimal experience. For players without a PlayStation 5, the prospect of purchasing a digital-only PS5 console and Grand Theft Auto 6 in 2026 is estimated to cost around $680 before taxes. This figure makes the current generation's required hardware and software the most expensive combination in the franchise's nearly three-decade history.