With the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 and GTA 6, 2025 is shaping up to be an expensive year for video game fans.

Rockstar Games’ hesitance to pick a release date for “GTA 6” is spooking publishers from doing the same for other games

Video games have never been more prevalent or elaborate, but the industry that creates them is currently facing unprecedented headwinds amid spiraling costs, intense competition, and a stagnating player-base.

All going to plan, GTA 6 will finally be with us this year. Set for a fall 2025 launch, the next chapter of the enduring Grand Theft Auto series has been several years in the offing, with a series of high-profile leaks, batshit internet rumours, and one single GTA 6 trailer punctuating the journey.

Some gamemakers want 'Grand Theft Auto VI' to be priced between $80 and $100 to give the game industry "hope" as it continues to struggle financially, analyst Matthew Ball has said.

GTA 6 may set a new $100 base price for games, possibly sparking industry-wide changes in pricing. The game's unprecedented buzz could justify the price hike, aiding in AAA development costs. The ambiguous 2025 release date is making other studios hesitant about releasing their games to avoid competing with GTA 6.

Grand Theft Auto is known for creating controversy. How will it navigate a more progressive, politically fraught time? There are quite a few, including the Switch 2, AI, new game genres, and “non-core” markets,