"Grand Theft Auto 6" is confirmed to be coming on Nov. 19 on select platforms, but fans are already thinking about what the early preorder figures mean for the upcoming installment.
Reported sales data from Sensor Tower shows a significant difference between PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S preorders. According to the figures, PS5 accounts for 77% of reported "GTA 6" preorders. Xbox makes up the remaining 23%.
That gives the PS5 more than three times the reported preorder volume of Xbox.
'GTA 6' PS5 Preorders Reach Millions
Based on the reported Sensor Tower figures, "GTA 6" has already reached around 4.35 million pre-orders on PS5. Those sales are estimated to represent roughly $426 million in revenue.
Xbox Series X|S, meanwhile, accounts for about 1.3 million reported copies. The platform has generated approximately $128 million in reported preorder revenue.
The gap may appear significant. But Microsoft's response suggests the numbers are not being viewed as a problem internally.
Xbox Is 'Happy' Over 'GTA 6' Preorder Numbers
Microsoft Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball addressed the figures on X. He said the company is "very happy" with "GTA 6" preorders.
Ball also claimed that the game is already breaking records on Xbox. He expects additional records to be set as the launch gets closer.
Xbox Points to Console Market Share
Ball also offered an explanation for the difference between the two platforms.
According to him, Xbox's share of "GTA 6" preorders is consistent with its share of the overall console market.
This distinction is important when looking at the raw numbers. The PS5 has a larger installed player base than the Xbox Series X|S family. That gives Rockstar a larger pool of potential "GTA 6" buyers on Sony's console.
The reported preorder split reflects that difference. PS5's 77% share translates to more than four million copies. Xbox's 23% share represents around 1.3 million.
The figures therefore show a large sales gap. They do not necessarily indicate how individual Xbox players are responding to the game.
Questions Surround 'GTA 6' Preorder Data
According to GameSpot, the reported numbers have also attracted some skepticism online.
Some users responding to Ball questioned both the figures and the explanation based on console market share.
The discussion comes during a period of major changes at Microsoft. The company recently announced another round of layoffs. The cuts reportedly affected Halo Studios, while Activision was also reported to have taken control of the Halo franchise.
These developments have added more discussion around Microsoft's gaming business. However, they do not directly establish a connection between the layoffs and GTA 6 preorder performance.
'GTA 6' Marketing Gains Momentum
Rockstar Games is also continuing to build anticipation for "GTA 6."
The game's marketing has reached Miami, Florida. Promotional material welcomes visitors to Vice City, the fictional setting where much of the game takes place.
Player excitement is also becoming increasingly visible online. Some fans have even discussed taking time off work for the game's release.
Two months to go, and we're about to see the new criminal profile system in the game.
