Grand Theft Auto VI preorders are reportedly leaning heavily toward PlayStation 5, according to a new report from The Verge’s Tom Warren. Citing sources at Xbox, Warren says the preorder split is raising additional alarm bells internally about the position of Microsoft’s console platform. Neither Rockstar Games nor Microsoft has published platform-specific GTA VI preorder figures, so the extent of the gap remains unknown.
The claim appears in a wider report examining Microsoft’s latest restructuring of its Xbox business. Warren writes that sources inside Xbox say GTA VI preorders are “heavily skewed toward PS5,” placing the upcoming Rockstar release alongside broader concerns around Xbox hardware performance. The report does not provide unit totals, percentages or regional breakdowns, meaning the claim should be treated as sourced internal reporting rather than confirmed sales data.
Grand Theft Auto VI has been available to preorder since June 25 and launches November 19, 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar sells both Standard and Ultimate Editions across the two console families, with the Standard Edition priced at $79.99 and the Ultimate Edition at $99.99 in the United States. Rockstar has not announced a PC version for launch, leaving PlayStation and Xbox as the two console ecosystems competing for GTA VI buyers this year.
The reported imbalance is notable because GTA VI is likely to be one of the biggest multiplatform releases of the current console generation. Unlike a first-party exclusive, Rockstar’s game gives consumers a direct choice between PlayStation and Xbox versions, making its preorder split a potentially useful indicator of where the active premium-console audience is concentrated. That does not necessarily translate directly into overall console market share, however, because individual purchasing habits can vary significantly between games.
Rockstar’s own marketing has also placed visible emphasis on PlayStation. The official GTA VI website currently says the game “Plays Best On PlayStation 5,” while Rockstar has promoted PlayStation-specific benefits alongside the broader PS5 and Xbox Series X|S release. Sony also recently revealed limited-edition GTA VI DualSense controllers scheduled to launch alongside the game, adding another major marketing tie-in around the PlayStation version.
The report comes as Microsoft continues restructuring the Xbox organization following years of hardware revenue pressure and changes to its first-party strategy. Warren reports that Xbox hardware revenue has declined for three consecutive years, while Microsoft has increasingly moved games beyond its own console ecosystem. Several former Xbox exclusives have already expanded to PlayStation, contributing to a broader shift toward software and services rather than relying solely on console hardware sales.
That context helps explain why a heavily PS5-skewed GTA VI preorder split could matter internally. A major third-party release performing disproportionately better on a competing console could reinforce concerns around where players choose to buy premium games, especially when those customers are also building digital libraries that may influence future platform decisions. The Verge’s report frames GTA VI as one more warning sign rather than an isolated problem.
There are still important limitations to the claim. No public preorder totals have been released, and the report does not reveal whether the comparison covers worldwide sales, specific retailers, digital storefronts or a narrower set of internal data. Preorder behavior can also change as launch approaches, particularly once marketing campaigns, bundles and reviews begin influencing undecided buyers.
Grand Theft Auto VI launches November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Until Rockstar, Take-Two or the platform holders publish concrete sales figures, the exact size of the PS5-Xbox gap cannot be independently measured. For now, the significance lies in Xbox sources reportedly viewing the preorder imbalance itself as another concern about the platform’s position ahead of one of the industry’s largest releases.
