A retail insider has warned gamers to purchase a new console well before the Christmas rush, as the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 coincides with ongoing hardware supply shortages. The warning comes as pre-orders for GTA 6 opened this week, with the game set to release on November 19.
Supply Shortages Threaten Christmas Sales
According to a report by The Game Business, led by industry expert Christopher Dring, a senior games buyer at a major retailer spoke anonymously about the situation. They stated: “We’ve been informed that because of the on-going issues around hardware component availability, we won’t be getting the units we want ahead of GTA. Demand will likely outstrip supply during the year end period.”
The admission raises alarm for gamers and parents who may miss out if they do not secure a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S console in the coming months. GTA 6 will not be available on PC at launch, making console ownership essential.
Xbox Faces Greater Uncertainty
While PlayStation bosses assured investors earlier this year that they have “the necessary volume” of PS5 consoles for the rest of the year, Xbox is less certain. Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball previously told The Game Business that “demand for our console exceeds the supply.” He added: “We need to do more, but there are constraints here. And so there are, unfortunately, a number of different markets in which we do not have supply. There are other markets in which we have inadequate supply. That is a privilege as a company it is a challenge for us to figure out.”
Why Demand Will Spike
GTA 5 launched on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in September 2013, and later on PS4 and Xbox One. However, GTA 6 will only be available on current-generation consoles, forcing many players to upgrade. Ball also admitted that GTA 6 will “invigorate a lot of players” and “move some additional devices.”
GTA 6 pre-orders are now open. The Standard Edition costs £69.99, while the Ultimate Edition is priced at £89.99.
