Despite the physical edition controversy, "Grand Theft Auto 6" is still dominating headlines ahead of its highly anticipated release, and early pre-order activity has reignited the long-running rivalry between PlayStation and Xbox.
While Rockstar Games has not released official sales figures, affiliate data suggests that PlayStation 5 owners are pre-ordering the game at a much higher rate than Xbox Series X/S players.
The reported gap caught a lot of attention among gamers, although analysts stress that the available numbers represent only a limited sample of overall sales.
'GTA 6' PS5 Pre-Orders Reportedly Outpace Xbox
According to affiliate commerce data shared by IGN, PlayStation 5 pre-orders for "GTA 6" are currently outperforming Xbox Series X/S by an estimated 8-to-1 ratio. However, the figures are based solely on purchases made through IGN's tracked affiliate links and should not be viewed as official industry-wide sales data.
Through IGN Finds' and commerce affiliate linking program, the data is showing that PlayStation is outperforming Xbox by a rate of 8-to-1. Link in bio for more on GTA's effect on console sales. #IGNSummerOfGaminghttps://t.co/Hc8yYr0FQJ#IGNSummerOfGaming pic.twitter.com/TaKQS2RgxH
— IGN (@IGN) June 27, 2026
The report gained additional attention after physical PS5 copies briefly sold out on Amazon shortly after pre-orders opened. While that suggests strong demand on Sony's platform, it does not necessarily reflect the sales for the global market.
Microsoft Says the Data Doesn't Tell the Whole Story
Speaking to Windows Central, Microsoft has pushed back against the growing narrative surrounding the reported figures.
An Xbox spokesperson said affiliate sales represent only a small portion of total pre-orders and urged fans to wait until official launch data becomes available.
The company also stated that Xbox has seen record-breaking preorder activity, though it did not provide specific numbers. Like in recent years, Microsoft continues to focus on player engagement and Game Pass growth rather than publicly disclosing hardware or software sales.
Why PlayStation Could Still Have the Advantage
According to Kotaku, industry analysts note that PlayStation 5 currently has a significantly larger global install base than Xbox Series X/S. Most market estimates place PS5 console sales at roughly double those of Xbox, making higher software sales on Sony's platform unsurprising.
Even so, an 8-to-1 preorder ratio is considerably larger than the estimated console sales gap. If future data confirm a similar trend, factors such as regional demand, marketing partnerships, and player preferences could also influence purchasing decisions.
Official 'GTA 6' Sales Figures Will Provide the Real Picture
For now, reports of PlayStation's lead remain based on affiliate tracking rather than verified global sales. Until Rockstar Games or its parent company, Take-Two Interactive, releases official launch data, the true distribution of "GTA 6" pre-orders across PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S remains unknown.
In the meantime, check our previous report about the latest "GTA 6" screenshots.
