A comparison shared in a Twitter post by user Synth Potato estimates that developing the new GTA installment cost a staggering $2 billion and took approximately 13 years in total, including preliminary stages. Even considering only the core production cycle since 2019, the project has already exceeded 7 years of active development. This surpasses not only the scale of previous Rockstar games (and any other video game or even global blockbuster films) but also—as the same user noted—the budget and construction timeline of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa ($1.5 billion and 6 years, respectively).

It should be clarified that the $2 billion estimate includes future support for GTA Online, so not all of that sum went directly into the single-player campaign. Nevertheless, the investment level reflects the project's unprecedented ambitions. As one commenter rightly pointed out, if GTA 6 isn't a flawless, bug-free game, it simply won't live up to its overinflated expectations and record-breaking budget.

The game is scheduled for release on May 26, 2026.

Main image: reddit.com