Rockstar has announced a release date of 2025 for GTA 6. It’s anticipated that the game will be a huge hit and might even break sales records in its first month. According to reports, those who haven’t yet purchased the latest systems from Sony and Microsoft are reportedly willing to spend for a unit so they may play GTA 6. But the question is, can we expect GTA 6 to boost sales of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles in the long term?
A temporary spike or long-term growth?
GTA 6 will surely be an amazing financial accomplishment. It will be compared with the predecessor of this game, GTA 5 which still remains one of the best-selling games ever with over 195 million copies (as of 2024). The launch day for GTA 6 will definitely see console sales skyrocket due to players’ desire to experience Rockstar’s most recent title.
But we also have to take into account the current player base. In Q1 (Jan-Mar) of 2024, Sony sold 4.5 million PS5 consoles, according to the company’s Q4 FY2024 financial report. It might be argued that a significant portion of future GTA 6 players already own an Xbox Series X/S or PS5, and Microsoft’s sales figures lend weight to this argument.
Fans who desired other titles like COD MWIII, NBA2k24, FC 24, and GTA 5 on the newest hardware are probably responsible for a large portion of these recent console sales. Though we are aware that there will be new players as well as die-hard fans, this may not result in a widespread cycle of console upgrades for those who have already made the investment in the current generation of games.
Here’s a breakdown of the current console sales:
| Console | Recent Sales Figures | Potential Impact of GTA 6 |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | 4.5 million units sold (Jan-Mar 2024) | Likely increase sales at launch, but existing player base might not upgrade for GTA 6 alone. |
| Xbox Series X/S |
|
Similar to PS5, but long-term impact still uncertain. |
Important Notes:
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- In 2023, PS5 outsold Xbox Series X/S by a ratio of roughly 3:1.
- The Xbox Series X/S sales are only a speculative figure, and the actual sales might differ.
GTA 6 will be a blockbuster, but its effect on hardware sales could be momentary. For Sony and Microsoft, the real challenge would be to develop a constant flow of new exciting titles spanning different genres. They can ensure that gamers will stay engaged with their platforms long after the initial excitement surrounding a massive release like GTA 6 has subsided by building a strong and diverse library.
