Why GTA 6 Took 13 Years and $1 Billion to Make

Thirteen years after the record-breaking release of Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar Games is preparing to release its successor. GTA VI is expected to be one of the biggest entertainment releases in history, and potentially one of the most expensive. Why is there so much riding on the game and how is Rockstar uniquely positioned to take on a project of this scale? Explore these and other related stories in more depth on Bloomberg.com: The Making Of Grand Theft Auto VI https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2026-grand-theft-auto-6-making-of/ Take-Two CEO Says ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ Expectations Are ‘Terrifying’ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-04/take-two-ceo-says-grand-theft-auto-vi-expectations-are-terrifying Twitch CEO Urges Game Firms to Avoid Attention Vortex of ‘GTA 6’ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-17/twitch-ceo-urges-game-firms-to-avoid-attention-vortex-of-gta-6 00:00 Introduction 01:18 Title Card 01:46 Development Costs and Scale 03:22 Rockstar's Origins 04:19 Rockstar’s Expanding Worlds and Extended Timelines 05:25 Expectations for GTA VI 06:35 Gaming Industry Turmoil 07:33 Why Publishers Prefer Familiar Ground 08:45 The Bull Thesis: A Console Ecosystem Reviver 09:38 The Online Multiplayer Engine 10:33 Conclusion GTA GrandTheftAuto GamingIndustry Gaming -------- Like this video? Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/Bloomberg?sub_confirmation=1 Get unlimited access to Bloomberg.com for just $1.99 your first month: https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions?in_source=YoutubeOriginals Bloomberg Originals offers bold takes for curious minds on today’s biggest topics. Hosted by experts covering stories you haven’t seen and viewpoints you haven’t heard, you’ll discover cinematic, data-led shows that investigate the intersection of business and culture. Exploring every angle of climate change, technology, finance, sports and beyond, Bloomberg Originals is business as you’ve never seen it. Subscribe for business news, but not as you've known it: exclusive interviews, fascinating profiles, data-driven analysis, and the latest in tech innovation from around the world. Visit our partner channel Bloomberg News for global news and insight in an instant.