2025 could potentially be the biggest year for video game sales yet

The most prominent factor is the highly anticipated release of GTA 6.

When considering the most lucrative entertainment franchises in history, many think of iconic brands like Star Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avatar, or even Mario. These franchises benefit from a continuous stream of releases—sometimes multiple in a single year—that keep them relevant in consumers’ minds, all raking in multi-billion dollar revenues. However, compared to Grand Theft Auto, these franchises seem to pale, especially when we consider the scale of investment necessary to sustain them.

The key difference lies in Rockstar Games, along with Take-Two Publishing, having created arguably the most successful entertainment franchise ever, with just three to five main titles since the launch of GTA 3 back in 2001. The ongoing revenue from GTA 3 has morphed into an avalanche of wealth, especially as the sales of GTA 5 began to wane. This financial momentum is expected to amplify even further with the launch of GTA 6. A quick look at the numbers illustrates this point well. In the film industry, a movie often crosses the $1 billion milestone only after several weeks in theaters. For instance, according to Elle Palmer’s article on The Verge, the fastest film to reach this mark was 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, which accomplished it within five days of its release.

The buzz, enthusiasm, and pent-up anticipation created by GTA 5 have all contributed to soaring expectations for GTA 6.

In stark contrast, GTA 5 achieved $1 billion in sales in just three days, outpacing Avengers: Endgame by two days. This remarkable achievement doesn’t even account for inflation. Adjusting for inflation from its 2013 release to 2019, that $1 billion would be roughly equivalent to $1. 1 billion, representing an additional 10% increase. A glance at GTA 5’s Wikipedia page highlights the scale of its success. Upon its release, Grand Theft Auto V generated over $815 million in revenue globally within just 24 hours, translating to around 11. 21 million copies sold for Take-Two Interactive. These figures nearly doubled initial analysts’ predictions for the title.