Rockstar finally broke more news about “Grand Theft Auto VI.”

And it’s hardly good news.

After months of speculation and chatter from analysts, Rockstar confirmed the standard edition of the game will cost $79.99 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Ultimate Edition? That’ll be $99.99.

Normally I’d say a $10 increase in the cost of the game is bad enough, but it gets worse.

Rockstar’s website indicates there’s also a ton of perks for those who shell out $100 for the edition, ranging from cars, cosmetics, weapons and more. Which is fine — pay the extra money, get the goodies, right?

It doesn’t stop there.

Some of the game’s in-game stores are exclusive to those who buy the Ultimate Edition. Moreover, IGN reports the return of Gang Compounds, where players will raid or take over hostile areas in Leonida.

One of those missions is also exclusive to Ultimate Edition players.

Finally, if you’re a fan of owning physical media (like me), you’re outta luck. You’ll only get a box containing a digital download code.

Not much of a choice

There’s no other way to sugarcoat this — this is about as sucky as it gets.

The higher price point is justifiable to a point. This game has been in development for years, it’s a business, I get it.

But “Grand Theft Auto V” is one of the best-selling video games of all time. It’s almost a foregone conclusion that “VI” is going to do well, and it’ll likely be Game of the Year.

Where I’m having a really hard time with the price is not having a choice in the matter.

Sure, I can save $20 and get the standard edition. But between exclusive in-game stores, at least one mission/story activity and all the other stuff exclusive to the Ultimate Edition, Rockstar is making it awfully hard to feel good about buying the standard edition.

And that’s a problem.

It’d be one thing if Rockstar tacked on some of this content on as exclusive for GTA+ members (which I was previously), but this feels like Rockstar really taking advantage of players. If this is how they’re going to treat the cost of admission to just play the game, I can only imagine how they’ll leverage GTA+ once the game’s online version launches.

This feels different. I’ll gladly fork over a few extra bucks for a steel case, some early-game buffs or cosmetics, but they hardly make or break the game. This feels like Rockstar saying, “If you want the fullest version of the game, you’ll pay $100.”

Then there’s the “physical edition.”

A code inside a box isn’t a physical edition. It’s a box and a receipt. Why in the hell would any developer spend money for plastic cases, just to slap a code inside?

I’ve always preferred owning physical copies of games for a few reasons. Part of it is the ritual of getting a new game, taking off the plastic and cracking the case for the first time. That never gets old. And I feel like I own that copy of the content.

This feels like a very intentional step away from ownership toward permission. How do I know if I spend the $100 on this game that, 20 years from now, I’ll still have access to it?

I wish I could say I’m still excited about “Grand Theft Auto VI.” I want to be. But this feels like Rockstar nickel-and-diming players at every turn with what will likely be one of the best-selling video games of all time.

It’s unnecessary, it sucks, and I won’t be preordering.

Do better, Rockstar.