So this slipped under the radar. After Rockstar officially opened the pre-orders for GTA 6 and unveiled the price, much of the discourse centered around the price tag itself. People are apprehensive about the $80 price, saying it would set a bad precedent in the industry that other games would follow. Others defended the price, pointing to the game’s development costs and its unique position in the industry. However, something else started to bother me instead.
No Gameplay Trailer?
Why is nobody talking about the fact that Rockstar has opened pre-orders for the game without even showing real gameplay? Rockstar has released two trailers for GTA 6 so far, but none of them have shown actual gameplay. Instead, we got a completely cinematic reveal trailer and a second one that showed bits of gameplay intermixed with cinematics. The elusive “third trailer” remains a mystery for now.
And yet, Rockstar has officially opened pre-orders for the game on June 25th, with the standard edition priced at $80 and the Ultimate Edition at $100, which offers a few more cosmetic perks. Mind you, we have absolutely no clue yet about what the gameplay looks like for GTA 6, and yet, Rockstar has started taking people’s money already. No, the bits of Jason driving in the second trailer do not count.
I can’t remember a game off the top of my head that took people’s money without showing them what the gameplay will eventually look like. We don’t know what the game’s HUD looks like; we know nothing about the in-game camera, controls, or other mechanics that are usually revealed months before pre-orders open. Rockstar just seems to think it can get away with it simply based on the hype of GTA 6, and to be honest, they’re not far off.
Only Rockstar could’ve gotten away with this
Tell me one other company that could’ve gotten away with taking people’s money without showing the finished product? I’d like to see EA and Ubisoft try, but even those so-called “cash grab” companies have not yet adopted this method. Only Rockstar, with its immense fan following and cult-like status in the gaming community, could’ve realistically gotten away with this. And it seems like they have.
The problem is not Rockstar or even GTA 6. I’m sure GTA would’ve made as much or even more money with pre-orders had Rockstar dropped a gameplay trailer first. The game is expected to bring in over $1 billion from pre-orders alone, and that number would be even higher with a gameplay trailer. I don’t really think Rockstar is hiding something from us. We know what to expect from a GTA game, and GTA 6 will be the same formula, just turned up to 11.
The real problem is what this practice means for the gaming industry as a whole. This sets a wrong precedent that other companies will now follow.
An Ugly Future
Rockstar has opened the floodgates. A game the size of GTA 6, with the cultural impact that it has, taking people’s money without showing actual gameplay, is going to cause a big shift in the industry. Games will now start opening pre-orders without dropping gameplay trailers, and then deliver a product that is decidedly worse than the one they promised.
The industry is already suffering from half-baked games launched before they are finished. Developers rush to put the product on the market, then promise to fix the game with day-1 patches and subsequent updates. This trend will be made worse if companies now start taking pre-orders months in advance, before the gameplay has even been revealed to the public.
Anyone can make their game look brilliant using cinematics, but you can do little to liven up a gameplay reveal. Of course, as I mentioned earlier, nobody is doubting Rockstar’s gameplay. We all know, more or less, what GTA VI will look and feel like. However, it is the principle that is important to uphold, and it is the precedent that is being set that worries me.
Of course, the shift in trend will ultimately depend on the paying customer. If the customer does not deem a game or a studio worthy enough, they will not open their wallets to them, regardless of whether or not gameplay has been shown. However, Rockstar’s influence is undeniable, and just like they raised the bar with an $80 base game, they might have set the wrong trend in motion with this one, too.
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[PC Hardware Specialist]
Usman Saleem brings 8+ years of comprehensive PC hardware expertise to the table. His journey in the tech world has involved in-depth tech analysis and insightful PC hardware reviews, perfecting over 6+ years of dedicated work. Usman’s commitment to staying authentic and relevant in the field is underscored by many professional certifications, including a recent one in Google IT Support Specialization.
8+ years of specialized PC hardware coverage
6+ years of in-depth PC hardware analysis and reviews
Lead PC hardware expert across multiple tech journalism platforms
Certified in Google IT Support Specialization
Get In Touch: usman@tech4gamers.com
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