The wait for Grand Theft Auto VI has already stretched over a decade. But for thousands of players, the final hurdle may not be the release date—it’s the price of entry.
Last week, Sony announced a significant price increase for the PlayStation 5 lineup, including the all‑digital PS5, the PS5 Portal, and most notably, the PlayStation 5 Pro. Starting April 2, the Pro model will approach $1,000 in many regions. For a console positioned as the premium way to play, the hike has sparked immediate backlash and raised serious questions about accessibility.
The Best Version Comes at a Premium
GTA VI is being built for current‑gen hardware, with Rockstar taking full advantage of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Unlike Red Dead Redemption 2, which was designed with PS4 and Xbox One in mind, Vice City is being crafted to push the limits of what these consoles can do. And among them, the PS5 Pro is the undisputed heavyweight.
It’s the console that will deliver the highest fidelity, the most stable performance, and the most immersive version of the game. Naturally, it’s the platform Sony is expected to pair with GTA VI in a rumored exclusive bundle. From a business perspective, it makes perfect sense. From a consumer perspective, it’s a financial gut punch.
GTA 6 Double Cost Barrier
The bundle itself—if it materializes—would likely carry a premium price, adding to the console’s near‑$1,000 tag. On top of that, GTA VI itself may cost more than the standard $70 game. Rumors of a $100 price point have circulated for years, fueled by the game’s record‑breaking budget and Take‑Two’s history of pushing pricing boundaries.
For players who had been saving for a PS5 Pro specifically to experience GTA VI at its best, the price hike feels like a betrayal. Even for those considering the standard PS5, the timing—just months before the game’s November 19 release—adds insult to injury.
The PC Wait
Compounding the issue is Rockstar’s usual release pattern. PC players, who could otherwise build a machine to exceed console performance, will likely wait a year or more for a PC port. For the foreseeable future, the PS5 Pro is the only way to play GTA VI at its technical peak. And for many, that peak is now financially out of reach.
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Sony’s price hike comes at the worst possible moment for fans already stretching their budgets to prepare for the biggest game of the decade. A bundle with GTA VI—once seen as a dream pairing—now looks like an exclusive few can afford.
Grand Theft Auto VI will still launch on November 19. But for thousands of players, the best version of Vice City will remain just out of reach.