By A picture of three Rockstar collector’s boxes side by side, IV, V and VI, has been going around this week, and the comments are arguing about which one was worth the money. The VI column is twice as long as the other two. It’s also the only one that costs $399.99.
Here’s what was in each box, going by the original announcements:
- GTA IV Special Edition: a metal safety deposit box with a lock, a Rockstar keychain, an art book, a soundtrack CD and a duffel bag
- GTA V Collector’s Edition: a SteelBook, a blueprint map of Los Santos, a security deposit bag with a logo key, a New Era snapback and in-game bonuses
- GTA VI Vice City Collection: 11 items, from a Macca the Gator figure and Oakley sunglasses to a New Era cap and a map poster
| Box | Launch price | The game | In today’s dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTA IV, 2008 | $89.99 | Included | ~$140 |
| GTA V, 2013 | $149.99 | Included | ~$210 |
| GTA VI, 2026 | $399.99 | Not included | $399.99 |
The last column changes the picture. Adjusted for US inflation, the IV box is about $140 today and the V box a little over $210, so the price hasn’t quadrupled. Against GTA V it has roughly doubled. The bigger change is the game column: GTA VI’s box is merch only. Add the $79.99 Standard Edition and the full set comes to $479.98.
Rockstar didn’t come up with this for GTA VI. The Red Dead Redemption 2 Collector’s Box in 2018 cost $99.99 and also shipped without the game: a lockbox, a map, playing cards, pins, and the game sold separately. GTA VI takes the same model and adds a New Era cap and Oakleys. The full list with materials and sizes is on our collection page, and the pre-order details are in our September 25 news.
Which one was worth the money? For me it’s the IV box. It was a real metal safe with two keys, it was cheap even for 2008, and the game was inside. The V box had the best single object, that blueprint map with the cash spots marked on it. VI has the most stuff and the biggest brands, and I still find it odd to call something an edition when you can’t play it. If I did spend $400 on this, I’d keep the figure and the map poster out. The rest would end up in a drawer.