A screenshot from the X account @GTASixInfo did the rounds on r/videogames. It listed everything the poster had bought for Grand Theft Auto VI: the $100 ultimate edition, a $58 magazine print, a $27 Netflix subscription to watch an extended look, two limited edition controllers at $85 each, a $158 vinyl and CD set, a $58 Best Buy exclusive vinyl and the $400 collector's edition.
The total came to $971, for a game that is not out yet. The post signed off with "WORTH IT." The Reddit poster disagreed, calling the bragging "a madness," and the thread drew more than 300 comments.
"Consumerism final boss"
That was the top reply, and it set the tone. Many commenters were less bothered by the game than by the extras. The second most upvoted comment singled out the $27 Netflix subscription for an extended look that, according to that commenter, was released on YouTube a few hours later.
Others went after the collector's edition itself. One self-described fan of collector's editions still called spending $400 on this one "asinine." Another asked the obvious question: why not wait and read the reviews first?
"Let people enjoy things"
Not everyone joined the pile-on. One commenter said adults can do what they like with their own money as long as it hurts nobody, and that there are far worse things to be a fan of than GTA. Another pointed out that the person might simply have more money than the people judging them. A third replied that the "let people enjoy things" crowd gets surprisingly harsh when it is something they do not like.
A few people floated the idea of the game flopping. Most agreed that is very unlikely. As one reply put it, hoping GTA flops "is like hoping Monday's stop existing."
Our take
How much to spend on a game you are excited about is your call. Two things are worth keeping in mind before launch day, though. First, prices move: editions get discounted, bundles appear, and a price tracker tells you when the version you want gets cheaper. Second, a physical copy keeps some of its value. If a game turns out not to be for you, you can sell it or trade it for something you will actually play.