KCD2's studio head wants GTA 6 to raise prices: who picks up the bill?

As reported by Movistar eSports, Martin Klima, co-founder of the studio behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, said publicly what many in the industry only say in private. He hopes the launch of GTA 6 will bring an increase in video game prices. What's more, he doesn't frame it as a risk to keep an eye on, but as something desirable. In his own words, "it's necessary".

The statement matters because of who is making it and which game it points to. This isn't a Rockstar executive defending their product. It's the head of another studio, one with a demanding and ambitious RPG under its belt, who sees GTA 6 as the chance to break through a ceiling nobody dares to break alone. When an outsider encourages the market leader to make the first move, it's usually because they plan to follow right behind.

What you need to know

• Who's saying it: Martin Klima, co-founder of the studio behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
• What he's arguing for: that GTA 6 should come with a price increase, something he considers "necessary".
• Why GTA 6: the source suggests Rockstar's game could play a key role in that shift, although the available summary doesn't lay out his full argument.
• What we don't know: the original report doesn't mention any official price or specific figures. For now, this is an opinion, not an announcement.

Why everyone is watching Rockstar

In the video game market, launch prices work like an anchor. No studio wants to be the first to charge more and take all the community's outrage. That changes if the most anticipated title of the generation leads the way. If GTA 6 raises the bar and still sells like crazy, the rest of the industry will have the perfect excuse to do the same. Rockstar has something almost nobody else has: the ability to weather the controversy without its business taking a hit.

That's why Klima's position makes sense from the inside. Big-budget productions keep getting longer and more expensive, and mid-sized studios competing in the AAA league feel that pressure more than anyone. From his point of view, having the giant absorb the initial blow would be a relief for everyone else.

Who it really affects

An across-the-board price increase doesn't hit every player the same way. Someone who buys one or two games a year probably won't notice much. Someone who makes a living playing, reviewing or streaming new releases will feel it with every launch. There's also the Spanish-speaking community spread across the Americas and Europe, where regional pricing and exchange rates can turn a moderate increase into a serious blow to the wallet. In a global industry, a decision made in one market ends up reaching everyone.

Our take

At Underworld Lordz, we understand the cost argument. Nobody wants to see studios shutting down or teams burned out by impossible budgets. Even so, the word "necessary" rubs us the wrong way. Necessary for whom? In recent years we've seen full-price games that also ship with battle passes, premium editions, in-game stores and content cut out to be sold later. If the base price goes up, we want all of that to shrink or disappear. Paying more up front and then continuing to pay inside the game isn't sustainability, it's charging twice.

For content creators, buying a game on day one isn't a whim, it's a work tool. Every increase raises the barrier a little higher for small streamers and YouTubers, the very people who keep the Spanish-speaking scene alive. For competitive players, the effect is indirect, but it's real. Many esports titles are free to play, but the ecosystem around them (peripherals, subscriptions, yearly releases) already adds up.

Our position is clear. A higher price is only acceptable if it comes with a complete product, an honest monetization model and regional pricing that reflects the reality of each country. The fact that the head of another studio is urging Rockstar to raise prices says a lot about how the industry sees its audience: as people who will pay anyway. Hopefully, this time the community will show it knows how to say no.

What do you think?

GTA 6 might break the price ceiling, or Rockstar might decide to leave it alone. Either way, the debate is already open, and it affects all of us who play, compete and create content. Would you pay more for GTA 6 if it meant every other game got more expensive too? Let us know in the team chat or on our Discord.