When Rockstar revealed GTA VI's $99.99 Ultimate Edition, plenty of players called it a greedy step up from the traditional $59.99–79.99 range. That criticism has aged oddly in the past week, after two of the industry's biggest annual sports franchises both landed on a considerably steeper number.
Two $150 Editions in One Month
2K Sports priced NBA 2K27's Ultra Edition at $149.99 ahead of its September 4 release, and Electronic Arts followed with EA Sports FC 27's Ultimate Plus Edition at the same $149.99 on July 23, ahead of a September 25 launch. Both editions lean heavily on in-game currency — Virtual Currency for 2K, FC Points for EA — bundled with early access and season passes.
GTA 6's Pricing By Comparison
GTA VI's Standard Edition sits at $79.99 with the Ultimate Edition at $99.99, and its bonus content — exclusive shops, vehicles, and hideout perks — is delivered at launch rather than drip-fed across a season pass structure. That puts Rockstar's most expensive edition roughly $50 below both sports titles' top tiers.
Why the Comparison Isn't Simple
A lower price tag doesn't necessarily mean better value — most of the $150 tier's cost in both sports games goes toward currency that powers grind-heavy progression systems, effectively charging players to skip a slog the games are designed to create. GTA Online's own microtransaction history means Rockstar isn't exempt from similar criticism once GTA VI's online component matures. Still, with GTA V still actively played thirteen years after release, a $99.99 purchase price looks more reasonable when spread across a game's likely lifespan.
