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The State of Gaming in 2025: Outrage Over GTA 6 Pricing and Industry Challenges

Veteran investment analyst Matthew Ball of Epyllion has released an extensive 219-page report titled State of Video Gaming in 2025, sparking controversy over his suggestions regarding the video game industry’s growth and pricing strategies. Among the most contentious ideas is Ball’s proposal for Rockstar Games’ upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) to break the $100 price barrier, a move that has left gamers and the community reeling.

$100 for a Game? The Community Says “No”

Ball suggests GTA 6 could set a new standard for AAA game pricing, arguing that Take-Two Interactive might price the game at $80 or even $100. According to Ball, this “turning point” could enable developers to increase prices industry-wide to cover ballooning development costs. However, his remarks have been met with widespread ridicule and frustration, as gamers on social media voice their outrage.

From Twitter to Reddit, negative reactions are pouring in, with many pointing out the absurdity of paying $100 for a standard edition of a game. “Games are getting more expensive, but the quality is going downhill,” one user noted, highlighting the growing trend of buggy, unfinished releases. Others expressed concerns about GTA 6 potentially setting a dangerous precedent that could push more games into unattainable price ranges for average players.

The Decline of Game Quality

Criticism of Ball’s suggestion also ties into a broader issue: the decline in the quality of AAA games. While game prices are steadily increasing, they often come with more bugs, performance problems, and incomplete features at launch. Gamers are demanding better value for their money, especially when publishers continue to rake in profits through microtransactions, premium editions, and battle passes on top of the base price.

Take Cyberpunk 2077 as a cautionary tale: hyped to the heavens, it launched as a broken mess, requiring years of patches to reach its potential. Gamers fear GTA 6 could suffer a similar fate, despite the high expectations for Rockstar Games.

The Financial Stakes of GTA 6

Despite the outrage, analysts predict GTA 6 will be a financial juggernaut. Take-Two’s GTA V sold over 205 million copies and continues to generate substantial revenue through GTA Online. Early projections suggest GTA 6 could sell 40 million copies and earn more than $3 billion in its first year alone.

However, Ball warns that while GTA 6 will dominate player hours and revenue, it could “severely cannibalize” time and money spent on other games. Ubisoft has countered this narrative, stating that GTA 6‘s success could benefit the industry by drawing in new players.

Growth and Challenges in 2025

Ball’s report also explores opportunities for industry growth in 2025, including:

  • Expansion into “non-core” markets
  • User-generated content and social game services
  • The Nintendo Switch 2 and new handheld devices
  • Growth in mobile AA/AAA gaming
  • Generative AI and in-game advertising

For the Nintendo Switch 2, Ball notes that its ability to run modern games without performance drops could attract players who currently avoid the original Switch. However, with leaks suggesting it will still lag behind other consoles in terms of power, it may face stiff competition.

On the flip side, the report highlights numerous challenges, from rising development budgets and platform policy changes to the impact of unfinished, buggy games on consumer trust.

Final Thoughts

While Matthew Ball’s report offers thought-provoking insights, his proposal for $100 games has landed poorly with a gaming community that’s already fed up with rising prices and declining quality. If developers want to grow the industry, they’ll need to focus less on squeezing every dollar out of players and more on delivering polished, enjoyable experiences worth the cost.