GTA 6 Unaffordability Crisis Revealed in One Chart

Grand Theft Auto 6 is shaping up to be the most anticipated video game release in over a decade, but getting your hands on it will come with a steep price. Since the game is skipping PC at launch and appears unlikely to land on the Switch 2, players are left with limited hardware choices: an Xbox Series X, S, PS5, or PS5 Pro. Those consoles aren’t cheap, and GTA 6 itself carries an $80 price tag. The total cost to jump in right away is daunting.

But how does this compare to the cost of playing previous GTA titles at launch? When adjusted for inflation, the numbers get surprisingly close, yet the combination of GTA 6 and a new PS5 still represents the most expensive entry point ever.

For this breakdown, I focused on the cheapest new PlayStation console available on the day each mainline GTA game launched. PC and Xbox prices are excluded, as are spin-offs like Vice City Stories. All inflation adjustments use data from May 2026.

Grand Theft Auto (1997)

The original GTA launched in December 1997 for the OG PlayStation, just months after Sony dropped the console’s price to $150. It’s a reminder that consoles used to get cheaper over time. The game itself cost $50 in the U. S.

Cost to buy a PS1 and GTA in 1997: $200 | In 2026 dollars: about $415

Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999)

GTA 2 arrived on PlayStation in October 1999, perfectly timed after another PS1 price reduction. This remains the cheapest opportunity in history to buy a new GTA game alongside a new console. GTA 2 also launched at $50.

Cost to buy a PS1 and GTA 2 in 1999: $150 | In 2026 dollars: about $298

Grand Theft Auto 3 (2001)

GTA 3 hit the PlayStation 2 in 2001 and became one of the console’s defining hits. It launched at the standard $50 price on the barely year-old PS2. Not quite a launch title, but an early showcase of the PS2’s power.

Cost to buy a PS2 and GTA 3 in 2001: $350 | In 2026 dollars: about $660

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)

Later this year, millions will explore GTA 6’s updated Vice City. Twenty-four years ago, in 2002, players were already visiting the PS2 version and enjoying one of the best game soundtracks ever. The game arrived shortly after the first major PS2 price cut of $100.

Cost to buy a PS2 and Vice City in 2002: $250 | In 2026 dollars: about $462

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)

This was the first GTA I vividly remember counting down the days for. The two-year gap between Vice City and San Andreas felt so long back then. Naive, I know. San Andreas launched near the end of the PS2’s lifecycle but still became a massive hit, helped by another PS2 price cut in 2004.

Cost to buy a PS2 and San Andreas in 2004: $200 | In 2026 dollars: about $351

Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)

The first GTA to jump to the next console generation and also the first to launch on both Xbox and PlayStation. In April 2008, the cheapest way to play was a price-reduced, discontinued Xbox 360 20GB model for $300. The cheapest new PS3 was $400.

Cost to buy a PS3 and GTA IV in 2008: $460 | In 2026 dollars: about $561

Grand Theft Auto V (2013)

The most recent GTA game is somehow 13 years old. GTA V launched in 2013 on Xbox 360 and PS3, both of which had received price cuts. Each cost $300 new with enough storage for the game. Just don’t install the play disc on Xbox 360.

Cost to buy a PS3 and GTA V in 2013: $360 | In 2026 dollars: about $515

Grand Theft Auto 6 (2026)

And now we arrive at the next chapter. Over a decade after GTA V, Rockstar is finally releasing GTA 6 this November with an $80 price tag. It’s launching at a time when aging consoles like the PS5 are more expensive than ever, thanks to an ongoing global RAM shortage. A bad combo. The cheapest option in November is an Xbox Series S, but it won’t offer the best experience. If you want a PS5 and don’t own one yet, be ready to spend nearly $700 before taxes.

Cost to buy a PS5 digital-only console and GTA 6 in 2026: $680