Take-Two chief executive Strauss Zelnick has defended Rockstar’s pricing for Grand Theft Auto 6, arguing that both its standard and Ultimate editions offer strong value. The comments matter because the game’s $80 standard price is $10 above the usual triple-A console price, while the $100 Ultimate Edition has prompted criticism over paid exclusive content and the lack of a disc in physical copies.

Zelnick said video-game prices have not matched inflation and claimed the real cost of a major game is lower than 20 years ago, although Take-Two will set prices individually rather than adopting $80 across its catalogue. He cited Mafia: The Old Country’s $50 price as an example, said GTA 6 pre-orders had been “exceptional”, and noted that more than 70% of respondents to an IGN poll chose the $100 Ultimate Edition.