Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders officially open today, putting Take-Two Interactive’s most ambitious financial projections to the test. The countdown has been anything but quiet: Rockstar Games is rolling out what analysts call the most expensive entertainment production in history, with development costs estimated at up to $1.5 billion. Security experts are already warning fans about fake VIP access scams demanding cryptocurrency payments, while the company’s servers brace for a flood of pre-order traffic. A smooth launch will serve as the first concrete signal of real demand.
Behind the hype lies a carefully orchestrated monetization pivot. Bank of America analyst Omar Dessouky has sharply upgraded his forecasts, projecting online revenues of $2.2 billion for the fiscal year 2028 — an increase of roughly $900 million from current levels. The revision stems from a major shift in player spending habits: Rockstar now expects the average active user to spend $60 per year, up from $35 in the previous cycle. To support that ambition, the developer has expanded its online-mode team from just 10 employees at the 2013 launch of GTA V to more than 100 developers focused on live-service features. The goal is to build predictable recurring revenue streams beyond blockbuster releases.
The pricing strategy for GTA VI itself remains closely guarded, but analysts at Jefferies anticipate a base price of $80. A $70 sticker, they argue, would actually make premium editions more appealing — and it is precisely those special editions that will reveal the blueprint for the online ecosystem. Take-Two is expected to introduce subscriptions, premium currencies, or a season pass. The online mode itself likely won’t arrive until December, giving players a month to complete the main storyline. That timing is no accident: the predecessor sold nearly 230 million copies, and in-game purchases have sustained Rockstar’s revenue engine for over a decade.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Take-Two?
Wall Street has already priced in a great deal of optimism. Jefferies and DA Davidson both set price targets of $300, while Piper Sandler sees the stock at $280. The shares have responded accordingly: Take-Two advanced 1.59% on Wednesday to €217.00, extending a weekly gain of roughly 9% that brings it within striking distance of its 52-week high of €225.30. However, technical indicators flash a note of caution — the relative strength index sits at nearly 73, signaling an overbought condition that could invite a pullback.
Management is targeting total revenue of roughly $8 billion for the fiscal year 2027, and the pre-order numbers will be the first real test of whether GTA VI can carry that load. The initial release on November 19, 2026 covers only current-generation consoles; PC gamers will have to wait until at least April 2027, according to analysts. That delay adds another layer of uncertainty to the revenue timeline.
With a price-to-sales ratio of 6.7, Take-Two trades at a significant premium to the industry average, leaving little room for missteps. Any hiccup in today’s pre-order rollout — or a shift in the console release date — could quickly erode the stock’s recent gains. For now, all eyes are on the servers and the price tag.
Ad
Take-Two Stock: Buy or Sell?! New Take-Two Analysis from June 24 delivers the answer:
The latest Take-Two figures speak for themselves: Urgent action needed for Take-Two investors. Is it worth buying or should you sell? Find out what to do now in the current free analysis from June 24.
Take-Two: Buy or sell? Read more here...
