GTA 6 is eight weeks out, and the console war has already started.
## What set it off The Verge's Tom Warren reported that GTA 6 pre-orders were "ringing yet more alarm bells" for Xbox, with the numbers skewing heavily toward PS5. On September 24, Xbox chief strategy officer Matthew Ball responded on X: "we are very happy with GTA VI pre-orders," saying the game is "breaking records for Xbox." GamingBolt wrote it up September 25.
## What he did and didn't say Ball said Xbox's share of GTA 6 pre-orders matches its share of the console market. He didn't deny PS5 is ahead. When Warren asked what Xbox's market share actually is, Ball didn't answer. So "breaking records" and "PS5 is winning" can both be true. Xbox's own records aren't Sony's.
## Why PS5 is ahead Sony has the marketing deal with Rockstar. The Extended Look trailer ran on a base PS5, and the GTA 6 DualSense controllers sold out at pre-order. When the biggest game of the decade is marketed on one console, that console gets the pre-orders.
## Bad timing for Xbox This comes right after Xbox's studio reset: 268 layoffs, Halo moved to Activision, and Ninja Theory closed. A good GTA story is exactly what Xbox needs right now, and "we're happy" without a number doesn't give people much to believe.
## For players It doesn't matter much. GTA 6 launches November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Buy it where your friends are playing. Rockstar gets paid either way, and so does Take-Two. Everyone else is arguing over percentages.
For the Miami side of the rollout, see Rockstar putting 'Welcome to Vice City' on the Kaseya Center.
## Sources - GamingBolt, Sept. 25, 2026: Xbox is "very happy" with GTA 6 pre-orders despite reports of heavy PS5 skew - Matthew Ball on X, Sept. 24, 2026: post

