Microsoft has pushed back against claiming GTA6 preorders for Grand Theft Auto 6 are heavily leaning toward the PlayStation 5 over Xbox Series X and S platforms.
The discussion kicked off following a report by The Verge’s Tom Warren regarding Xbox’s recent studio reorganizations and layoffs. Warren pointed out that the apparent dominance of PS5 in early GTA 6 sales figures was “ringing yet more alarm bells” concerning the Xbox ecosystem.
Xbox CSO Matthew Ball quickly addressed the chatter on social media, insisting that Microsoft is “very happy” with how the upcoming blockbuster is performing on their hardware. According to Ball, internal analytics tell a very different story.
“Tom, we are very happy with GTA VI pre-orders,” Ball stated. “The title is breaking records for XBOX, we expect even more records will be broken throughout the fall, and our internal analysis shows our share of preorders to be matching our share of the console market.”
While Microsoft keeps its exact console sales figures under wraps, Sony regularly shares updates on PlayStation hardware performance. As of June 30, the PS5 had surpassed 95 million units sold. Meanwhile, industry analysts estimate that the combined sales of the Xbox Series X and S are being outperformed by a ratio of at least 2:1. If those estimates hold true, raw preorder numbers naturally skew higher on Sony’s side simply due to the larger existing player base.
Adding fuel to that hardware disparity is the massive marketing partnership between Sony and Rockstar Games. Sony has gone all-in on promoting the title, showcasing gameplay captured specifically on the PS5, integrating the console into promotional spots, and even rolling out a custom GTA 6 user interface exclusively for the platform.
PlayStation’s promotional push has also highlighted hardware-specific features, such as the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and built-in speaker support, alongside custom app branding on mobile devices. Given the weight of this partnership, a numerical advantage in early platform reservations comes as little surprise to industry observers.
Alongside the preorder debate, recent reports from The Verge suggest that ongoing shifts at Xbox—led by new CEO Asha Sharma—could potentially position the division to operate more easily as a wholly owned subsidiary or standalone entity in the future.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S on November 19.
