Pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto 6 on PlayStation 5 are significantly outpacing those on Xbox Series X/S, with new data revealing a 6-to-1 ratio in favor of Sony's console. The data, sourced from the IGN Deals account on Instagram, highlights the dominance of the PS5 as the platform of choice for Rockstar's highly anticipated sequel.
Marketing and Hardware Sales Gap
Rockstar's GTA 6 is set to launch on both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 19, but the bulk of marketing has been directed toward Sony's machine. Sony has promoted the PS5 version with a blog post touting features like DualSense haptic feedback and faster load times due to its custom SSD. Additionally, the PlayStation 5 startup animation now includes a dedicated GTA 6 sequence.
The pre-order disparity reflects a wider hardware sales gap. As of March 2026, Sony has sold 93 million PS5 units worldwide. Microsoft, which stopped reporting console sales, had sold an estimated 28.3 million Xbox Series X/S units in 2024, with current estimates around 35 million. The 6-to-1 pre-order ratio mirrors this install base imbalance.
Impact of Xbox Game Pass
The low volume of Xbox pre-orders may also be attributed to the influence of Xbox Game Pass. GTA 6 is not launching on the subscription service, and it remains unclear if it ever will. Analysts suggest that Game Pass has conditioned Xbox owners to avoid paying full price for new games, potentially reducing pre-order numbers.
Both Sony and Microsoft face declining hardware sales due to price hikes. Xbox prices are set to rise again in August, which could further dampen sales. Despite this, GTA 6 is expected to sell considerably more on PS5, though the question remains whether Sony can produce enough consoles to meet demand by launch.
Industry Context and Analyst Views
Console sales have hit record lows in the US amid rising prices, as reported by GameCentral. Physical games may also become obsolete within a decade, according to some analysts. GTA 6 is expected to leverage social media heavily, with store listings hinting at new features.
