Microsoft has responded to reports suggesting that pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto 6 heavily favor the PlayStation 5. According to the company, pre-order figures for the Xbox Series X and S are actually in line with the platform’s overall market share.
The discussion follows a report earlier in the week by The Verge journalist Tom Warren, written in the context of recent layoffs and reorganizations at Xbox. The report claimed that the alleged dominance of PS5 pre-orders for the game was raising alarm bells within Microsoft.
Matthew Ball, Chief Strategy Officer at Xbox, addressed the claims by stating that Microsoft is very satisfied with GTA 6 pre-orders. Internal company data reportedly indicates that the Xbox pre-order share matches the console market share.
Ball stated that the company is extremely pleased with the GTA 6 pre-orders, noting that the title is breaking records for Xbox and that further records are anticipated during the autumn. Based on internal analysis, the pre-order share aligns with the platform’s console market share.
Official sales figures for the Xbox Series X and S have not been published by Microsoft for years. Meanwhile, Sony has released sales data showing that the PS5 has sold more than 95 million units. Industry analysts estimate that the combined sales of Xbox Series X and S consoles are significantly lower, though exact ratios remain unconfirmed officially.
Consequently, public figures do not allow for a definitive count of actual pre-orders placed on each individual console platform. Microsoft’s statement solely indicates that the Xbox share corresponds to its standing within the broader console market.
Sony maintains a marketing partnership with Rockstar for Grand Theft Auto 6, resulting in a prominent PlayStation presence in promotional materials. Gameplay footage, marketing assets, and platform-specific features have frequently highlighted the PS5 version.
Promotional efforts include utilizing the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and built-in speaker, temporary redesigns of the PlayStation app, and published articles detailing technical capabilities. This strong visibility makes it difficult to infer actual pre-order distributions based purely on marketing presence, with exact figures remaining private to Sony, Rockstar, and Microsoft.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled for release on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, and will not launch on older consoles or PC.
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