GTA VI budget talk eclipses Burj benchmark

Grand Theft Auto VI has turned a viral comparison with Dubai’s Burj Khalifa into a wider debate over the cost of blockbuster entertainment, as industry estimates place the game among the most expensive creative projects ever attempted.

The claim spreading across social platforms is striking: the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, cost about $1.5 billion and took six years to build, while GTA VI may cost more than $2 billion after a development cycle stretching across more than a decade. The comparison is not exact. The tower’s cost is a widely accepted construction estimate, while the figure for the game remains an industry estimate rather than a confirmed number from Rockstar Games or parent company Take-Two Interactive.

Even with that caveat, the contrast has captured attention because it reflects a shift in the economics of media. A video game is now being measured against one of the most recognisable engineering projects of the 21st century. GTA VI is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Pre-orders have opened, with a standard edition starting at $79.99 and a premium edition priced higher in several markets.

Rockstar has not disclosed the game’s production cost. The $2 billion figure circulating online is best understood as an upper-range estimate that may include development, marketing, technology, localisation, online infrastructure and post-launch support. That matters because major games are no longer one-off products. They are platforms, built to generate revenue for years through online play, expansions, virtual items, subscriptions and recurring engagement.

The comparison with Grand Theft Auto V underlines the scale of the jump. GTA V, released in 2013, was widely estimated to have cost about $265 million including development and marketing. At the time, that made it one of the costliest entertainment releases in history. It went on to become one of the highest-selling games ever, with sales passing 200 million units and continued revenue from GTA Online. Its commercial endurance explains why Take-Two and Rockstar are willing to support a vast production cycle for its successor.

The Burj Khalifa comparison also needs context. The 828-metre Dubai landmark opened in January 2010 after construction that began in 2004. Its estimated $1.5 billion cost covered a physical structure involving concrete, steel, glass, labour, land logistics, engineering risk and complex site management. It formed part of the wider Downtown Dubai development, whose total cost was much higher. GTA VI, by contrast, is a digital project, but one involving thousands of developers, artists, animators, writers, actors, engineers, testers and marketers across several years.

The production of a large open-world game requires expensive motion capture, proprietary technology, artificial intelligence systems, world design, music licensing, voice performance, network infrastructure and compliance work across markets. Each additional year of development multiplies payroll and overhead costs. For a franchise the size of Grand Theft Auto, marketing can also rival or exceed the budget of many films.

The scale of the project has brought labour questions into sharper focus. Staff linked to Rockstar’s UK operations have sought union recognition, citing concerns over pay transparency, flexibility and crunch culture. The issue has gained attention because the game is expected to deliver extraordinary revenue, while the wider games industry has faced layoffs, studio closures and uncertainty despite strong consumer demand for top-tier titles.

The economics of GTA VI also show the widening gap between the largest developers and smaller studios. Artificial intelligence tools and digital distribution have made it easier to produce games, but the top end of the market is becoming more expensive. Major publishers are investing in fewer, bigger releases designed to dominate attention across consoles, streaming platforms and online communities. That model can deliver huge returns, but it also increases pressure when release dates slip.