GTA 6 pre‑sale shows PlayStation outpacing Xbox, prompting price hike talk for AAA games

Pre‑order data for Rockstar Games' upcoming title GTA 6 indicates a strong preference for Sony's PlayStation 5 over Microsoft's Xbox Series X|S. IGN‑cited figures show roughly six times more copies ordered for PS5 than for the Xbox consoles, a gap that exceeds the roughly 2.7‑to‑1 difference in installed bases. Analysts note that Sony's marketing campaign and larger user base have amplified the disparity, while Xbox faces upcoming console price hikes that could further dampen demand.

Industry commentary suggests the game's $80 launch price may set a new benchmark for AAA titles. Mat Piscatella of Circana observed, "we expect more games to increase their launch prices," and Dr. Serkan Toto of Kantan Games added that the higher price "will make it easier for other AAA publishers to follow." The potential ripple effect could see other premium games raise prices by about $10, reshaping pricing strategies across the sector.