GTA 6 Ultimate Edition saves $4,900 versus nightly outings

Millionaire investor Mark Tilbury argues in a viral video that purchasing Grand Theft Auto 6 for $99.99 could save consumers approximately $4,900 compared to the cost of dining and entertainment over 50 nights.

The argument centers on the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, scheduled for November 19. Tilbury compares the upfront cost of the game to the recurring expenses of going out to bars and restaurants. He posits that spending evenings in the game’s fictional Vice City is a more economical use of time and money than real-world social activities.

Cost Per Hour Calculations

Tilbury bases his initial calculation on the Ultimate Edition of the game, priced at $99.99 for PlayStation. The standard version is listed at $79.99. Both editions are set to launch on the same date. For the cost-per-hour analysis, Tilbury assumes a playtime of 80 hours. At this duration, the cost of the Ultimate Edition drops to approximately $1.25 per hour.

The 80-hour estimate is derived from a playthrough by one Rockstar developer, which included optional missions. Tilbury acknowledges that this figure is not a guarantee for all players, as individual playstyles vary. However, he notes that if a player spends 200 hours on the game, the cost per hour falls to roughly 50 cents.

The $5,000 Savings Scenario

The core of Tilbury’s financial advice involves a specific scenario: playing the game for four hours each evening over a period of 50 nights. He contrasts this with an alternative scenario where a person goes out every night for the same duration, spending $100 per night on food, drinks, and entertainment.

In this comparison, the 50 nights of going out would total $5,000. Since the game costs $99.99, Tilbury calculates that the player would be approximately $4,900 better off financially. This calculation assumes that the individual would have genuinely spent the $5,000 on outings if they had not purchased the game.

Viewers reacted with mixed responses to the logic. One commenter objected to the time commitment, stating that four hours every evening is an “INSANE amount of time.” Others pointed out that most people do not spend $100 going out every night, making the baseline for comparison unrealistic for many households. Additionally, viewers noted that someone who already planned to stay home would not realize any savings, as the $5,000 expense would not have occurred in the first place.

Despite the criticisms, some viewers appreciated the logical structure of the argument. One user wrote, “Thank you for the information. I will send this video to my parents.” The debate highlights a common consumer question regarding the value of entertainment purchases relative to discretionary spending on leisure activities.

Tilbury’s argument remains a playful take on consumer economics, using the imminent release of a major video game to illustrate the concept of opportunity cost. The specific numbers provided rely on hypothetical spending habits and playthrough durations that may not apply to the average buyer.