GTA 6 costs more than it took to build the Burj Khalifa

GTA 6 isn’t just one of the biggest launches in gaming history… It could also be one of the most expensive entertainment projects ever created.

Reports suggest GTA 6 may have a total budget of around $2 billion, putting it ahead of the estimated $1.5 billion spent constructing Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.

A huge price tag

While Rockstar Games has never revealed an official budget, industry reports believe the figure covers much more than making the game itself. Along with years of development, the reported cost is thought to include worldwide marketing, future downloadable content and long-term support after release.

The project has also been in development for years, with Rockstar investing heavily in new technology, detailed environments, advanced gameplay systems and thousands of people working across multiple teams.

Expected to break records

The investment could quickly pay off. Analysts believe GTA 6 could earn billions of dollars shortly after launch, with pre-orders expected to generate massive sales before players even get their hands on the game.

GTA 5, became one of the fastest-selling entertainment releases ever, reaching $1 billion in sales within just three days of launching in 2013.

Bigger than buildings?

The comparison with the Burj Khalifa shows just how much the entertainment industry has changed. Modern video games now require budgets that can exceed major construction projects.

With its enormous open world, cinematic storytelling and years of development behind it, GTA 6 is expected to raise the bar once again.

GTA 6 preorders are now officially live in the UAE

With the Standard Edition priced at around Dhs294 and the Ultimate Edition at approximately Dhs367. The highly anticipated game launches on November 19, 2026, with players who preorder able to preload from November 12. Fans who reserve their copy before November 20 will also receive the Vintage Vice City Pack preorder bonus. For a full breakdown of pricing, where to preorder, edition differences and everything else you need to know, see our full article here.