Microsoft: GTA 6 PS5 Preorder Figure Is Not Real Data

Microsoft has publicly pushed back against a viral claim that Grand Theft Auto 6 is selling eight times as many copies on PlayStation 5 as on Xbox, stating the figure "doesn't represent pre-order data." The statement, issued to multiple outlets, comes just three days after pre-orders for the most anticipated game of the decade went live on June 25.

The original claim, which spread rapidly across social media, suggested a lopsided platform split in early demand. Microsoft's response is blunt: the number is not drawn from actual preorder information. The company added that it has seen "record orders" for the Xbox version of GTA 6, though it stopped short of providing a specific sales figure or ratio.

The dispute highlights the intense platform competition surrounding Rockstar's return to Vice City. With the game launching November 19, both console makers are fighting for the narrative around early demand. Our GTA 6 price tracker shows the Standard Edition at $79.99 and the Ultimate Edition at $99.99 across both digital storefronts, giving neither platform a pricing advantage.

Without official sales data from Rockstar or Take-Two, the true preorder split remains opaque. Third-party estimates often rely on limited retailer surveys or social media sentiment, which can skew heavily toward one platform's enthusiast base. Microsoft's rebuttal does not confirm that the split is even, only that the 8:1 figure is inaccurate. For players still deciding where to lock in their copy, our breakdown of GTA 6 on PS5 and GTA 6 on Xbox Series X and S lays out what to expect on each console.

The preorder window has already sent ripples through the industry. On launch day, Wall Street analysts rushed to raise their Take-Two price targets, betting that initial demand would smash records. The Xbox statement, while defensive, reinforces that the game is a massive commercial event on all available hardware.

Neither Rockstar Games nor Take-Two Interactive has commented on the platform split. Microsoft's denial confirms the 8:1 figure is not drawn from real pre-order data, and the actual split remains unknown.