Analyst Predicts 'GTA 6' Could Rake In $3-5 Billion in First Week Alone

July 17, 2026 - 02:25

The video game industry is bracing for the meteoric impact of Grand Theft Auto 6, which is slated to arrive this fall. But according to one financial analyst, the game's earnings may be far more staggering than even the most optimistic projections have suggested.

Michael Pachter, a managing director at Wedbush Securities, has issued a bold forecast: Grand Theft Auto 6 could generate between $3 billion and $5 billion in revenue during its launch week alone. To put that number in perspective, that would be roughly equivalent to the entire annual box office of a major Hollywood studio, compressed into seven days.

Pachter's estimate is based on the massive pent-up demand for the next entry in Rockstar Games' flagship franchise. The last mainline title, Grand Theft Auto V, was released in 2013 and has since sold over 200 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling entertainment products of all time. With a twelve-year gap between installments, millions of players are expected to purchase the game immediately.

The analyst also points to the game's expected price point. Industry insiders believe Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar's parent company, may charge $80 to $100 for the standard edition, with deluxe and collector's versions priced even higher. Combined with a massive installed base of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles, the math adds up quickly.

If the prediction holds, Grand Theft Auto 6 would not only break sales records but shatter them. For context, the fastest-selling entertainment launch in history is currently Grand Theft Auto V itself, which earned $1 billion in its first three days. A $3-5 billion first week would triple or even quintuple that benchmark.

Rockstar has not yet commented on the analyst's figures, but the company is expected to ramp up marketing in the coming months as the fall release window approaches.