For decades, the video game industry has leaned heavily on the shorthand of “AAA” to describe its biggest, boldest, and most ambitious titles. These are the blockbusters: the Call of Dutys, the Halos, the Zeldas, and the Final Fantasys that dominate charts, headlines, and conversations. But every now and then, a game comes along that so thoroughly redefines expectations that the old labels feel insufficient. According to Nigel Lowrie, co-founder of Devolver Digital, that moment is upon us with the arrival of Grand Theft Auto VI.
In an interview with IGN, Lowrie mused on the absurdity of ever-expanding “A” designations in gaming—AAA, AAAA, and now, apparently, AAAAA. His tongue-in-cheek comment might have been a playful exaggeration, but beneath the humor lies an undeniable truth: GTA 6 represents something unprecedented in scale, cost, cultural reach, and industry gravity. In other words, if there were ever a title deserving of a “quintuple-A” moniker, this is it.
So what does it mean to be the world’s first “AAAAA” game? Let’s dive into what GTA 6 Money represents for Rockstar Games, the gaming industry, and the cultural zeitgeist at large.
The Evolution of the “A” Rating
Before considering the leap to quintuple-A, it’s worth revisiting the origins of “AAA” in gaming. The term borrowed from Hollywood, where “A-list” meant the highest level of star power and budget, came to describe big-budget titles with massive production values, marketing campaigns, and broad appeal.
By the mid-2000s, AAA became shorthand for the industry’s tentpoles: Halo 3, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. These were the games that studios invested hundreds of millions into developing and promoting.
More recently, “AAAA” emerged, often used by studios themselves to market ultra-expensive projects. Ubisoft famously applied the label to games like Skull Bones and Microsoft’s studios hinted at similar usage. The term was controversial, seen by many as corporate posturing rather than meaningful categorization.
But AAAAA? That’s something else entirely. Unlike the marketing-driven fourth A, the fifth A reflects a recognition of scale and influence so vast that it dwarfs competitors. And if we take Lowrie at his word, Rockstar’s upcoming juggernaut is the first true contender.
Why GTA VI is “Bigger Than Anything Else”
Lowrie described GTA 6 as “bigger than anything else, both in the scope and scale of the game and the kind of cultural impact that it has and the attention it demands.” Let’s unpack that.
- Unprecedented Development Costs
Reports and leaks suggest GTA 6 may have a development and marketing budget exceeding $1–2 billion, potentially making it the most expensive entertainment product ever created. By comparison, GTA V cost around $265 million—already astronomical in 2013. If these numbers hold true, Rockstar’s newest entry will dwarf not just games but even Hollywood blockbusters. For context, Avengers: Endgame, one of the highest-grossing films in history, cost around $350 million to produce.
- Scope and Worldbuilding
Rockstar is expected to deliver the largest, most dynamic open world it has ever built. With Vice City confirmed as a central location and speculation about multiple regions, players anticipate a living, breathing environment filled with intricate detail. GTA games have always pushed boundaries of immersion, but GTA 6 is rumored to use advanced AI for NPC behavior, hyper-detailed environments, and evolving world events.
- Technical Ambition
The leap from GTA V to GTA 6 parallels the evolution from GTA III to GTA IV. Rockstar’s RAGE engine will be tested at its limits, harnessing next-gen consoles to deliver unprecedented fidelity. The lighting, physics, weather systems, and animations shown in leaked footage already hint at realism surpassing most contemporary games.
- Cultural Impact
Few games achieve cultural penetration on the level of GTA. Since its inception, the franchise has been at the center of political debates, parental outrage, and media fascination. GTA V sold over 190 million copies, making it the second-best-selling game of all time, behind only Minecraft. Its online mode became a billion-dollar revenue stream and a social phenomenon in its own right.
With ten years of anticipation behind it, GTA 6 enters a cultural landscape hungry for its arrival. Its first trailer shattered records, pulling in over 90 million views in 24 hours. That kind of attention rivals Super Bowl commercials, presidential debates, and global sporting events.
The Pressure of a Decade-Long Wait
Part of what makes GTA 6’s launch so momentous is the sheer length of time since its predecessor. Released in 2013, GTA V has spanned three console generations and maintained relevance for over a decade thanks to GTA Online. Few games in history have demonstrated such staying power.
But that longevity also raises expectations. Fans have had ten years to imagine what comes next. Every rumor, leak, and speculation fuels the hype machine. The result is a pressure cooker where Rockstar must deliver not just another great game but a generational event.
The leap from GTA V to GTA 6 cannot be incremental—it must redefine the open-world genre once again. That is the burden of being “AAAAA.”
Comparisons Across Entertainment
To fully appreciate the quintuple-A label, it helps to compare GTA 6 to equivalents in other industries.
Movies: If GTA 6 were a film, it would be something like Avatar: The Way of Water—a long-gestating sequel from a master studio, pushing technological boundaries with an unprecedented budget, and carrying the weight of massive audience expectations.
Music: Think of Beyoncé dropping a surprise album that instantly becomes a cultural event, sparking global conversation overnight.
Television: It’s akin to the return of Game of Thrones at its peak, with every fan theorizing, dissecting trailers, and planning launch-night binges.
Few games command this level of attention. Even industry heavyweights like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Elden Ring don’t quite reach the global scale of GTA.
Risks of the AAAAA Label
Of course, labeling something “AAAAA” comes with risks. For one, it sets expectations at nearly impossible heights. When fans expect the biggest, best, and most revolutionary game ever, even minor shortcomings can feel like disappointments.
Additionally, the financial stakes are enormous. With a rumored billion-dollar budget, Rockstar cannot afford failure. A misstep, whether technical, narrative, or cultural, could have seismic consequences not only for Rockstar but for parent company Take-Two Interactive.
There’s also the question of sustainability. If GTA 6 succeeds, it may raise the bar so high that future projects feel pressured to match or exceed its scale. That could lead to unsustainable development cycles, crunch, and ballooning budgets.
A Generational Event
Despite the risks, GTA 6 seems poised to deliver something truly historic. The excitement surrounding its release isn’t just about gameplay mechanics or graphical fidelity—it’s about the sense that this is a cultural milestone.
Gaming has had watershed moments before: Super Mario 64 revolutionizing 3D design, World of Warcraft defining online worlds, The Witcher 3 setting new standards for narrative depth. But GTA 6 feels like it could be one of those rare moments when gaming commands the full attention of the global stage.
When it launches, millions will tune in not just to play but to watch streams, debates, and analyses. Headlines will dominate news outlets. Politicians may reignite debates about violence in media buy GTA 6 Money. TikTok trends and YouTube memes will flood timelines. It will be more than a game; it will be an event.
Conclusion: The First True AAAAA
Whether Nigel Lowrie meant it in jest or sincerity, his comment about GTA 6 being the first “AAAAA” game resonates because it feels true. Rockstar’s magnum opus is not just another sequel—it’s a culmination of decades of innovation, billions of dollars, and cultural relevance.
To call it “AAA” feels inadequate. To call it “AAAA” feels corporate. But to call it “AAAAA” feels right—not because the extra As have any objective meaning, but because they capture the sense of absurd scale and anticipation surrounding this title.
When Grand Theft Auto VI finally arrives, it won’t just be another release. It will be a seismic event in entertainment history. A quintuple-A game, in every sense of the word.
