Geldanlage: Vorfreude auf GTA VI – was das für Gaming-Aktien bedeutet

The week is special for gamers as the Cologne Messe halls fill to capacity for Gamescom, the world's largest gaming event, until Sunday. A new trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI), the much-anticipated game of the year, appeared on Thursday. The sixth installment in the blockbuster series arrives at the right time, as the gaming sector has faced some setbacks in recent months, says Moritz Henkel, a product manager at VanEck, a wealth manager. "Console manufacturers are under the pressure of more expensive hardware costs."

Investments in gaming stocks are complex due to the combination of valuation compression and cost pressures. The "Global X Video Games & Esports ETF", a VanEck alternative index product, fell nearly 11 percent in the first half of the year, while the VanEck "Video Gaming and eSports ETF" lost almost 9 percent. However, the business environment is robust, with the global gaming market surpassing $200 billion in 2025, a 9.1 percent increase compared to the previous year, according to Newzoo data.

Growth comes mainly from the PC sector and mobile games, while console game revenue declined slightly.

Market researcher Newzoo predicts an average annual market growth of 5.1 percent until 2028. It's not just the number of games sold that matters, says Henkel, gaming expert: "At the moment, we see how the gaming market is maturing. Growth comes increasingly from deeper monetization rather than significantly more players." Key to this monetization are so-called live-service models, where games are continually developed and monetized over the long term through new seasons, events, and game modes.

GTA VI may follow this model, starting with a sale price of €80 or €100 for the "Ultimate Edition" and then the second monetization through GTA Online. In-game currency, called Shark Cards, can be purchased, and players can activate premium in-game content. The rights to the GTA universe, known as intellectual property (IP), belong to the listed publisher Take-Two Interactive.

The trailer could provide a boost for the stock, as could the release date of November 19. Analysts see potential in this, especially since all 33 analysts following the stock recommend buying it. However, the price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) based on the expected earnings in the current business year is not favorable, with the company valued at 34 times its net earnings.

According to Bloomberg, all 33 analysts recommending the stock see potential in it, but its price-to-earnings ratio is not favorable, as the company is valued at 34 times its net earnings. Henkel notes that most of the good news is already reflected in the stock price. Even a successful launch of GTA VI may not guarantee a stock price increase, as expectations are already high.