Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: TTWO) is surging as investors increasingly bet on the massive revenue potential of Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6).
With GTA V having sold roughly 230 million copies worldwide and GTA Online becoming a powerful recurring-revenue engine, Wall Street sees GTA VI as more than another blockbuster video game release. Analysts are now raising their expectations for Take-Two’s revenue, GTA 6 Online bookings and long-term growth, with price targets reaching as high as $368 per share.
The Biggest Game Release in History
In fact, on June 24, we noted, “With GTA 6 now the central focus for millions of gamers and investors alike, Take-Two stock has become one of the most closely watched names in the entertainment sector.” That’s because of its powerful sales history surrounding one game.
Grand Theft Auto V has sold roughly 230 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling games ever released. In its first three days alone, it generated about $1 billion in sales, setting a benchmark for blockbuster entertainment launches.
- GTA IV sold about 30 million copies and generated about $1 billion.
- GTA III at roughly 14.5 million and generated between $350 million and $500 million.
- GTA II at about two million units, generating about $25 million to $40 million.
- GTA I generated about $1 million to $5 million in sales, selling about a million copies.
We should also note that after the release of GTA V, it evolved into a monetization engine through GTA Online. The online component introduced a persistent, evolving multiplayer world that continues to generate substantial recurring spending more than a decade later.
That track record is why investors are treating GTA VI not as a typical game release, but as a potential global entertainment event.
By the time of GTA VI’s release in November, it’s expected to sell 46 million copies in the first day of release, as noted by analysts at Piper Sandler.
“Investment bank Piper Sandler recently estimated that GTA 6 could sell more than 46 million copies on its first day of release. If accurate, those sales could generate roughly $3 billion in launch-day revenue, making it the largest entertainment launch of all time and comfortably surpassing the records previously set by GTA V,” according to RockStarIntel.com, a fan-run site covering video games created by Rockstar Games, which is a wholly owned publishing label and subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive.
Analysts are Bullish on TTWO
Not too long ago, analysts became even more bullish.
Analysts at BTIG recently initiated coverage of Take-Two with a Buy rating and a $290 price target, calling the company “firing on all cylinders,” according to CNBC. That view reflects confidence that the upcoming GTA VI launch could significantly expand both revenue and investor sentiment.
Analysts at Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) reiterated a buy rating on the stock with a price target of $368. The firm expects Grand Theft Auto 6 Online to generate about $2.2 billion in bookings in fiscal 2028. That’s $900 million higher than their previous forecast. The revision is based on stronger monetization assumptions. They now estimate about $60 in annual spending per monthly active user, up from $35 before.
What’s Next For Take-Two
Take-Two Interactive stock has a powerful catalyst in GTA VI, and Wall Street is increasingly recognizing just how significant that opportunity could be. The success of GTA V, combined with more than a decade of recurring revenue from GTA Online, gives investors a strong catalyst for what the next installment of GTA VI could deliver by November’s release.
