As GTA 6 approaches becoming one of the industry's biggest releases, not all developers share the same level of excitement for the title. Martin Klíma, co-founder of Warhorse Studios, responsible for the Kingdom Come franchise, stated that he does not understand the popularity of the Rockstar Games game and is unlikely to play it.
Despite this personal lack of understanding, Klíma hopes that the success of GTA 6 could trigger a transformation across the entire sector: an increase in the prices charged for games.
In an interview given to PC Gamer, the developer emphasized that he views productions of this magnitude as notable technological achievements, even if they do not align with his personal interests. Klíma stated: 'I won't play GTA 6 unless I am somehow forced to. And the reason for its popularity escapes me. It's something I simply cannot understand.'
The most interesting aspect of his statement lies in the discussion about pricing. For Klíma, raising the cost of each copy could be a viable solution for managing the growing expenses associated with game development. He commented: 'The last resort is to increase the unit price. That would help a lot, but everyone is afraid to do it. Now, we hope GTA will pave the way and allow us to raise prices.'
According to the Warhorse co-founder, Rockstar and Take-Two are among the few companies with the necessary capacity to take such a risk. He considers this increase essential to ensure the longevity of the business. This conversation takes place at a time when major productions demand larger teams, longer development periods, and investments that can reach hundreds of millions of dollars.
In the specific case of GTA 6, this change is already beginning to manifest. Information released indicates that the Standard edition costs US$ 79.99, while the Ultimate reaches US$ 99.99. This price positions the basic version US$ 10 above the US$ 69.99 that has become standard for major releases on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
For Martin Klíma, GTA 6 could serve as a test to gauge consumer willingness to pay more for large-scale titles. If the price is well received, other companies may feel more confident in adopting the same strategy. Thus, even without understanding the immense interest in the next Grand Theft Auto, the creator of Kingdom Come hopes that the game's reach will go beyond sales, helping to establish a new pricing standard for the industry.