GTA 6 release drives surge in console hardware demand

The upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) on November 19 is driving significant consumer activity and hardware demand within the gaming industry. Because the title is exclusive to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, players using previous-generation consoles must upgrade their hardware to play.

In Brazil, this anticipation is reflected in hardware sales. On the e-commerce platform KaBuM!, sales of the PlayStation 5 Pro increased by 200% between June and August compared to the same period last year. This trend aligns with broader market projections, such as those from PwC, which estimate the Brazilian gaming market will move approximately US$ 2.8 billion in 2026.

In the United States, the demand for compatible hardware has led to stock shortages for the PS5 Pro at major retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target.