@ walker
2025-05-08 00:41:48
FYI here is what Grok says about the accuracy of this post:
Let’s break down the accuracy of the X post by @SynthPotato, which compares the development of *Grand Theft Auto VI* (GTA 6) to the construction of the Burj Khalifa. The post claims:
- **Burj Khalifa**: Cost $1.5 billion USD, took 6 years to build.
- **GTA 6**: Cost $2 billion USD (estimated), took ~13 years to develop (with ~8 years in full production).
We’ll verify each claim using the provided context, web results, and general knowledge.
---
### **Burj Khalifa Claims**
1. **Cost: $1.5 billion USD**
- The web result from *A Deep Dive Into The Building Cost of Burj Khalifa* (sothebysrealty.ae, 2023) confirms the total cost of the Burj Khalifa was $1.5 billion, covering design, materials, labor, and project management. Another source, *Iconic construction projects – Burj Khalifa* (goconstruct.org, 2024), lists the cost as $1.4 billion. The $1.5 billion figure aligns with most historical reports, including the *Burj Khalifa - Wikipedia* entry, which also cites $1.5 billion.
- However, a reply to the post by @razeyonx notes that, adjusted for inflation, the Burj Khalifa’s cost would be around $2 billion in 2025 dollars. Construction began in 2004 and the building opened in 2010. Using an inflation calculator (e.g., U.S. CPI data), $1.5 billion in 2010 is equivalent to roughly $2.1 billion in 2025, assuming an average annual inflation rate of ~2.5%. This adjustment wasn’t mentioned in the original post, so the direct comparison to GTA 6’s $2 billion cost is slightly misleading without context.
2. **Time: 6 years to build**
- The *Burj Khalifa - Wikipedia* entry states construction began on January 12, 2004, and the exterior was completed on October 1, 2009, with the official opening on January 4, 2010. That’s roughly 5 years and 9 months from start to exterior completion, or 6 years to the official opening. The *A Deep Dive Into The Building Cost of Burj Khalifa* source also confirms the project spanned “over six years.” The post’s claim of 6 years is accurate, though it rounds slightly.
**Verdict on Burj Khalifa Claims**: The cost and timeline are accurate as stated, but the post omits inflation adjustment, which would make the Burj Khalifa’s cost closer to $2 billion in 2025 terms, aligning more closely with GTA 6’s estimated cost.
---
### **GTA 6 Claims**
1. **Cost: $2 billion USD (estimated)**
- The post estimates GTA 6’s development cost at $2 billion. The web result from *Development of GTA 6 cost «to $2 billion»* (itc.ua, 2025) cites a Financial Times report estimating the cost as “from hundreds of millions to two billion dollars.” This range is broad, but $2 billion is within the upper bound of estimates.
- A reply by @LegacyKillaHD suggests the $2 billion figure is misleading because it includes the “lifetime allocation” of the game’s development, including post-launch support like GTA Online, which could span years into the future. Historically, AAA game development costs have soared—*Red Dead Redemption 2* reportedly cost ~$540 million (Bloomberg, 2018), and modern estimates for flagship titles often exceed $1 billion when including marketing and live-service support. A $2 billion total for GTA 6, including years of online updates, is plausible but not confirmed as the development-only cost.
- The post acknowledges the cost is an “estimation,” which aligns with the speculative nature of the figure. However, without a breakdown (e.g., development vs. marketing vs. post-launch), the comparison to the Burj Khalifa’s construction cost is somewhat apples-to-oranges.
2. **Time: ~13 years (full production ~8 years)**
- The post claims GTA 6 took ~13 years to develop, with ~8 years in full production. Let’s break this down:
- **Total Development (~13 years)**: The *Grand Theft Auto VI - Wikipedia* entry states Rockstar began “preliminary work” on GTA 6 in 2014, after *GTA V*’s release in 2013. The game’s release is now set for May 26, 2026 (per the trending post by @RockstarGames). From 2014 to May 2026 is ~12 years, not 13. The post’s “~13 years” might be a slight overestimate or could include pre-2014 ideation, but no evidence supports work starting before 2014.
- **Full Production (~8 years)**: The Wikipedia entry notes “principal development” started after *Red Dead Redemption 2*’s release in October 2018. @LegacyKillaHD corrects the timeline, stating full production began in 2019. From 2019 to May 2026 is ~7 years, not 8. @SynthPotato acknowledges this in a reply, agreeing that a 2019 start means 7 years of full production. The post’s claim of ~8 years is inaccurate based on this correction.
- The 13-year total timeline might stem from fan speculation or earlier rumors (e.g., some fans mark 2013 as the start since *GTA V* launched then), but the more precise timeline is 12 years total, with 7 years of full production.
**Verdict on GTA 6 Claims**: The $2 billion cost is a plausible estimate but lacks specificity, as it likely includes post-launch costs, making the comparison to the Burj Khalifa’s construction cost less direct. The timeline is slightly inaccurate: it’s ~12 years total (not 13) and ~7 years of full production (not 8), as corrected by replies and supported by the Wikipedia entry.
---
### **Overall Accuracy of the Post**
- The Burj Khalifa’s cost ($1.5 billion) and timeline (6 years) are accurate, but the post doesn’t account for inflation, which would adjust the cost to ~$2 billion in 2025 terms, reducing the gap with GTA 6’s estimated cost.
- GTA 6’s $2 billion cost is a reasonable estimate but likely includes post-launch expenses, which muddies the comparison to a one-time construction project. The timeline is off: it’s 12 years total and 7 years in full production, not 13 and 8 as stated.
- The post’s core comparison—that GTA 6’s development is more expensive and time-intensive than building the Burj Khalifa—holds up directionally, but the numbers are imprecise, and the comparison overlooks contextual differences (e.g., inflation, scope of costs, and the nature of the projects).
**Final Verdict**: The post is **mostly accurate** but contains minor inaccuracies in GTA 6’s timeline (12 years total, 7 years in full production, not 13 and 8) and lacks nuance in the cost comparison (inflation adjustment for Burj Khalifa, scope of GTA 6’s budget). The overall point about the massive scale of GTA 6’s development compared to a landmark like the Burj Khalifa is valid, though the presentation could be more precise.