Xbox Fires Back at GTA 6 Preorder Claims, Says Numbers Match Its Market Share
Xbox CSO Matthew Ball says Microsoft is 'very happy' with GTA 6 preorders, insisting internal data shows its share matches its console market share, following a report of PS5 dominance.
Did you see that report claiming GTA 6 preorders are heavily skewed toward PS5? Well, Xbox has something to say about that.
Microsoft's Chief Strategy Officer, Matthew Ball, took to social media to push back. He said the company is "very happy" with how GTA 6 preorders are performing, adding that the game is "breaking records for XBOX" and that more records are expected to fall throughout the fall. According to Ball, internal analysis shows Xbox's share of preorders is matching its share of the console market.
That statement came in response to The Verge's Tom Warren, who reported that PS5's dominance over GTA 6 preorders was "ringing yet more alarm bells" about Xbox as a platform. The report also touched on this week's layoffs and studio reorganization at Xbox.
So why the skepticism? Well, Microsoft hasn't announced Xbox Series X and S sales numbers in years. Meanwhile, Sony's PS5 had sold more than 95 million units as of June 30. Analysts have suggested the combined Xbox Series range is being outsold by PS5 by at least a factor of 2:1. If that ratio holds, there would likely be twice as many GTA 6 preorders for PS5 than for Xbox.
Sony's partnership with Rockstar Games is also playing a big role. Sony has leaned heavily into GTA 6 marketing—gameplay has focused on the PS5 version, the console appears in GTA 6 marketing materials, and there's even a custom GTA 6 UI for PS5. Sony has published blog posts highlighting features like the DualSense controller's speaker and haptic feedback. There's even a version of the PlayStation app logo with GTA 6 colors and pale tree fronds. With all that, preorders being skewed toward PS5 isn't exactly shocking.
The Verge's report also suggested that the Xbox "reset," led by new CEO Asha Sharma, might be about making Xbox easier to spin off or operate as a wholly owned subsidiary—something prior reports have hinted at.
GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S on November 19. Will you be picking it up on PlayStation or Xbox? Let us know in the comments!
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