GTA 6 promotional merch hits second-hand market for $500, more than the collector's edition
A used paper bag from a Grand Theft Auto VI promotional event has sold on eBay for $501, surpassing the price of Rockstar Games' official Collector's Box by more than $100.
The unusual sale comes less than a month before GTA 6 launches on 19 November, with fans already paying extraordinary amounts for memorabilia from Rockstar's marketing campaign in Miami.
For comparison, before we get into the nitty-gritty of what’s actually been sold for half a grand, the Grand Theft Auto VI: The Goodtime State - Vice City Collection costs $399.99 (£349.99), despite not including a copy of the game.
Used GTA 6 Burger Shot bag attracts 30 bids on eBay
The bag was obtained during the Miami Heat's home opener at the Kaseya Center on 21 October, where it was announced on the NBA website that GTA-themed food outlets have been introduced as part of a city-wide promotional campaign.
Featuring the Burger Shot logo on one side and GTA 6's tropical 'VI' branding on the other, the bag would ordinarily be discarded after a meal, just like any other wrapping.
Instead, an eBay auction ended on Sunday, 25 October, with 30 bids and a final price of $501. The listing was marked as sold, although that alone does not confirm the buyer completed payment.
It's far from the only item commanding an inflated price. As revealed by GTA 6 reporter iShoTz on X (formerly Twitter) — and reported on by TheGamer — the purple 'I Love Vice City' foam finger, originally sold for $15 at the venue, was resold for $555.
Meanwhile, used Cluckin' Bell cups have attracted eBay bids up to $400, whilst other Burger Shot packaging has appeared on the second-hand market for substantial sums between $89.95 and $300.
GTA 6 fans question the eye-watering resale prices
Unsurprisingly, the listings have sparked criticism on Reddit, where members of the GTA 6 community questioned both the resellers and those prepared to pay hundreds for disposable packaging.
One commenter wrote: "Scalpers. I bet they aren't even fans"
Another added, noting on the general collectable scalper market right now: “These are the same morons selling Pokemon doughnut boxes for a hundred bucks”
Others questioned the legitimacy of the most expensive transaction, pointing out that similar bags had been advertised for considerably less.
One user asked: "30 bids at $501? If you had to have it that bad, why not jump on the $199.99 with free delivery?", though another pointed out the existence of ‘false bids’: bids made by scalpers on separate accounts to drive up the price, plus create a sense of urgency and legitimacy at the same time for real buyers.
Still, there’s no exact evidence to substantiate those claims at the time of writing.
That said, Rockstar’s aforementioned Collector's Box hasn’t exactly gotten glowing approval from the gaming fanbase, either. For its $399.99 price, you get a Macca the Gator figure, Oakley sunglasses, a New Era cap and numerous Vice City-themed accessories, but no copy of GTA 6.
For legit merch that’s actually still being sold at MSRP, Amazon’s exclusive GTA 6 ‘game plus vinyl bundle’ is still on sale at a reduced price — while stocks last.