It’s been 13 years since the last Grand Theft Auto installment, and fans are gearing up for what analysts say could be the biggest video game launch of all time. The latest game in the franchise, “Grand Theft Auto VI,” will be released on Nov. 19, after Take-Two Interactive’s Rockstar Games delayed its release twice. Roth analyst Eric Handler estimated that the game maker spent more than $1 billion developing the game. Sales figures could end up breaking records. Sensor Tower estimated more than 12 million pre-orders as of Nov. 13, and Morgan Stanley predicted the game could sell 40 million copies by March 2027. Beyond launch week, the Grand Theft Auto, or GTA, franchise has a history of long-standing engagement. Even 13 years after its release, “Grand Theft Auto V” is one of the top five most-watched games on Twitch this year. In anticipation of the game’s release, investors have been taking note: Take-two’s stock has more than doubled since the beginning of 2023. The launch is seen not only as a monumental moment for developer Rockstar Games and parent company Take-Two, but also as a huge opportunity for the entire gaming industry. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick addressed the lawsuit in a recent interview on “Squawk Box,” saying, “We tend to be pretty judicious when we talk about these kinds of things, but our expectations were high and so far they are being greatly exceeded.” Streamers and creators across the digital ecosystem see the launch as a great opportunity to drive engagement with their content and drive subscriber growth and advertising revenue. on Twitch and also posts content to YouTube and other social platforms, he said “GTA VI” will allow creators to grow their audience and provide a great opportunity for newer streamers to make a name for themselves. “This game will make a lot of millionaires in 2027. A lot of creators need to understand that this is it. This is the golden ticket. This is like a hundred times bigger than Fortnite,” he said in an interview with CNBC. “It goes beyond this launch moment to this sustainable opportunity for them to grow.” “build, engage and retain their audience and ultimately keep themselves making money,” said Mike Minton, Twitch’s chief product officer. GTA PTOChris Delmas | AFP | Getty Images higher than the equivalent days in 2024 and 2025. It also noted that nearly one in five workers plan to take time off for the launch. PwC issued a report examining all the different sectors of the economy that could benefit from, or be harmed by, the game’s launch. The firm projected that food delivery companies could see an increase in entrenched players, and Miami tourism could benefit. a location in the hit Netflix KPop movie Demon Hunters, increased by 118% in the four weeks after the film’s debut. Music streaming also looks like it will get a boost. Tom Petty’s “Love Is a Long Road,” which appeared in the first trailer for “GTA VI” in December 2023, reportedly caused Spotify streams to increase by more than 37,000%. The downside is that the game could distract from movies and entertainment. streaming. “How are people spending Thanksgiving? “There’s a lot of sports on TV, but there’s also a pretty solid demographic that will be focused on playing ‘GTA VI,'” said Bart Spiegel, who heads PwC’s Global Media and Entertainment sector. “You’re going to start shifting attention away from video streaming platforms. “I think you’re going to hear a lot of calls from analysts in the first quarter of 2027 saying, ‘Hey, listen, some of our numbers are down because of the release of this game,'” Spiegel added. Rockstar Games declined CNBC’s interview request. Watch the video above to learn more.
