Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick says GTA 6 was "expensive and took a long time" to make, but he still won't put a number on it. The official budget remains undisclosed.
What Zelnick said
Asked at WSJ Tech how much money went into the next Grand Theft Auto, Zelnick refused to give a figure, according to GTA BOOM. When the interviewer raised the widely reported estimate of more than $1 billion and asked how long it would take to recoup, he didn't play along.
"I never claim success before it occurs," he said. "I'm fond of saying arrogance is the enemy of continued success, and I really believe that."
He also said the approach "sometimes is in fact really expensive," and that if Take-Two gets it right, "it pays for itself and then some."
What the estimates say
The silence has left plenty of room for speculation. Per GTA BOOM, estimates have put the budget north of $1 billion and as high as $3 billion, which would make GTA 6 the most expensive game ever made.
Rockstar has pushed back on the wildest figures. According to GTA BOOM, the studio has denied the game cost more than Dubai's Burj Khalifa.
What it means for players
Zelnick's answer tells us nothing new about the game itself, and he's holding back judgment on the result. "I feel really good about it, but I'll wait and see," he said.
Analysts reportedly expect GTA 6 to earn billions, and GTA V is still selling more than a decade after launch. That gives Take-Two the financial cushion to back a huge bet, even if the exact cost stays secret.
Until Take-Two discloses a figure, treat any specific budget number you see online as speculation.