Everyone expects Grand Theft Auto 6 to be huge, but a new prediction suggests it could be even bigger than anyone imagined. Investment firm Piper Sandler believes Rockstar’s next blockbuster could sell more than 45 million copies at launch. If that happens, it would easily become one of the biggest video game launches ever.
The prediction comes from an unusual study. Analysts looked at weekly visitor numbers across about 15 popular gaming subreddits, paying close attention to the large r/GTA6 community. They then compared those numbers with the online interest seen before other major game launches.
To make the prediction, the analysts looked at how online communities behaved before the release of major games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, and Baldur’s Gate 3. They found that strong hype on social media often translates into strong launch sales. This forecast has already caught the attention of investors. After the report was published, Take-Two Interactive’s stock rose more than 6%. Piper Sandler also kept its Overweight rating on the company and maintained a price target of $280.
Still, the number is hard to ignore. For comparison, GTA 5 sold 11 million copies in its first day and set a record at the time. If GTA 6 reaches more than 45 million copies at launch, it would sell more than four times as many copies and easily break that record. There is little doubt that GTA 6 will be one of the biggest games of the decade. Whether it can hit these massive sales predictions remains to be seen.
GTA 6 is scheduled to launch on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, although its final price has still not been announced yet. Rumors suggest the game could cost more than the standard AAA price of $70, though many players may not mind paying extra, with almost 40% saying they would be willing to pay as much as $100 for GTA 6, according to a survey.
