GTA 6 Delay Could Cost $500 Million
The decision to delay Grand Theft Auto VI for a second time is more than a disappointment for fans—it’s an astronomically expensive strategic move for Rockstar Games. According to a financial expert, the six-month postponement could represent a financial swing of around half a billion dollars.
In an exclusive analysis, gaming finance expert Professor Rob Wilson detailed the direct costs to VideoGamer. He estimated that the delay adds approximately $350 million to the development budget alone. This surge covers extended costs for vendors, quality assurance (QA), certification, art polishing, and rebooking massive global marketing campaigns.
However, the true cost is even higher when considering the “time value of money.” GTA VI is expected to have the most front-loaded sales in entertainment history. Pushing that revenue event back by six months creates a significant financial hit. Wilson combined these factors, stating the delay “can easily be a $500 million equivalent swing” for Rockstar and its parent company, Take-Two Interactive.
To put this into perspective, the delay is costing Rockstar an estimated:
- $83.33 million per month
- $2.78 million per day
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Despite this staggering short-term cost, the expert believes Rockstar is making the financially prudent long-term decision. Releasing a flawed product could “permanently destroy more value than this half billion cost to delay,” Wilson explained. For a company that has built its reputation on delivering polished, genre-defining experiences over decades, protecting the brand is worth the immense immediate price tag. This move underscores their belief that a perfect game is ultimately more valuable than one released on time.