Grand Theft Auto (GTA) has been a popular series since its very first installment, though few could have imagined just how significant it would become by 2026, at the very start of the XXI century, when the third game in the series came out.
Along with sales, tracing the stock market performance of Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: TTWO) – the publisher – is a way of tracking the ascendance of GTA.
For example, when GTA III first released on October 23, 2001, TTWO shares were changing hands – after adjusting for the 2005 3-for-2 split – at $7.95. Thus, seeing the potential of the industry as far back as 25 years ago and investing $1,000 in the published would have led to owning 125.79 shares.
At press time on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Take-Two Interactive stock was trading at $205.30 pre-market, meaning it had rallied 2,482.39% since the release of GTA III.
This rise would therefore grow the original $1,000 investment to $25,823.90, for $24,823.90 in profits.
What is next for TTWO stock
Meanwhile, TTWO stock is expected to achieve another powerful rally in the next 12 months, thanks to the November 19 release of GTA 6 – arguably the most highly anticipated installment in the franchise, and maybe the most highly anticipated video game in history.
Indeed, Wall Street analysts have been unanimously bullish regarding Take-Two Interactive’s equity for months, leading to all nineteen ratings issued in the last three months featuring ‘Buy’ recommendations.
Furthermore, the lowest price target assigned in October – the $270 given by Citi’s (NYSE: C) Jason Bazinet – forecasts a 30.97% rally from the latest close at $206.16, while the highest – the $368 predicted by Omar Dessouky from Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) – estimates a 78.50% rise will take place in the next 12 months.
GTA 6 likely to prove most significant release in the history of the gaming industry
Still, some room for caution remains since, despite the enthusiasm and the approach of the actual release date, TTWO stock is, in fact, down 18.06% in 2026.
Indeed, the publisher has so far been plagued by various rumours and leaks, the most notable of which began in August and led to a 12% drop in the second half of the month.
Though the GTA equity’s performance is all but guaranteed to turn stellar upon a successful release of Grand Theft Auto 6, past turbulence shows the importance of the game for investors.
Under the circumstances, there exists a risk of a major sell-off after November 19, considering that the long development cycle – GTA 5 came out on September 17, 2013 – might have created unmeetable expectations.
Rockstar’s reputation as a developer and alleged pre-purchase numbers, however, do provide room for a bullish bias for the future of Take-Two Interactive stock.
Featured image via Shutterstock
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