The lingering question of whether Grand Theft Auto VI could command a record-breaking $100 price tag at launch has found a surprising and credible supporter: the voice behind one of GTA V's most iconic characters.
In an exclusive interview, Jay Klaitz, the voice actor for GTA V's paranoid heist mastermind Lester Crest, has thrown his weight behind the potential premium cost. Klaitz argues that the sheer scale, years of development, and promised long-term support for Rockstar Games' upcoming blockbuster more than justify the rumored price, suggesting players are essentially getting a multi-game package for the price of one.
The debate over game pricing has been heating up as development costs soar, and with GTA VI being one of the most anticipated entertainment products of all time, all eyes are on how Rockstar will value its creation.
"This Sh*t Takes Forever": A Voice Actor's Perspective on GTA's Grueling Development
Sitting down with The Escapist on October 29, Klaitz didn't just offer a simple opinion; he provided a rare glimpse into the monumental effort required to build a Grand Theft Auto title. When asked directly if a $100 price point for GTA VI is deserved, Klaitz was unequivocal.
"Yeah, dude," Klaitz began. "I mean, GTA V was so heavy on the mo-cap. I assume that GTA VI will be the same way, and these games take so long to make. Years and years and years."
He emphasized that the Rockstar team has been in a constant state of development, dispelling any notion of a lengthy hiatus. "It’s not like they’ve been hanging out, chilling, and then just started doing work the last year. They finished GTA V and started on GTA VI more or less immediately thereafter. This sh*t takes forever."
Klaitz's comments highlight a key point often missed by consumers: the multi-year, multi-hundred-million-dollar investment that goes into a title of this caliber. It’s a marathon of coding, designing, writing, and performing.
More Than a Launch Title: The Promise of a Living, Evolving World
The core of Klaitz's argument, however, rests on the post-launch lifecycle that has become a hallmark of Rockstar's games, particularly since the unprecedented success of GTA Online. He pointed to the enduring nature of GTA V as a blueprint for what GTA VI will become.
"[...] as we saw with GTA V, the game will come out, and there will be other versions, there will be downloadable content, and it will be online," Klaitz stated. "You’re almost buying multiple games when you buy the one."
This "multiple games in one" philosophy is central to the value proposition. Players aren't just buying a 40-hour story campaign. They are buying into a platform—a vast, open-world single-player experience that will likely be supported for years with story DLC, alongside a separate, ever-evolving multiplayer universe in what will presumably be GTA VI Online.
For fans looking to dive back into the world of Los Santos while they wait, securing a copy of the current title is a great way to pass the time.
Behind the Scenes: The Rigorous Motion Capture of a Blockbuster
To illustrate the depth of Rockstar's process, Klaitz detailed his own experience with the intensive motion capture for GTA V. He described sessions in New York studios on Long Island where actors performed in scaled-down "skeleton" sets, acting out every minute movement, from Lester exiting his vehicle to creeping down hallways.
This full-performance capture—mapping an actor's face and body simultaneously—is a painstaking and expensive process, but it's what gives Rockstar's characters their unparalleled realism and nuance. For GTA VI, which promises a new level of visual fidelity and life-like character animation, this process will be even more demanding.
Klaitz's own work schedule reflected the game's long tail. His role wasn't a one-and-done job. With the consistent updates and expansions for GTA Online, he was called back for recording sessions "lasting days to weeks" over many years. He expects a similar, sustained plan for GTA VI when it finally releases on May 26, 2026, for Xbox Series S|X and PlayStation 5, with a PC port to follow.
Acknowledging the Other Side: The Need for Accessibility
Despite his strong support for the developers being compensated for their work, Klaitz remains grounded and understanding of the fan perspective. He acknowledges that a higher price point creates a barrier for some.
"I would also like to see it made more accessible to more fans, so I get that side of the argument, too, to make it affordable for folks. That’s cool too," he said, suggesting a potential middle ground. "Maybe there’s like a way to split the difference, but I share that sentiment that this game warrants the price tag. Yeah, I get that."
This balanced take resonates with a community eager to experience the game but wary of rising costs. Whether Rockstar opts for a standard $70 price, a premium $100 edition, or a tiered release structure remains to be seen. But with a trusted voice from within the GTA universe vouching for the value, the argument for a premium price has never been more compelling.