Microsoft disputes claims that GTA 6 pre-orders on PS5 are out-selling Xbox 8-to-1

According to analysts, Grand Theft Auto 6 is on track to deliver the biggest gaming and entertainment launch of all time in terms of revenue when it launches on November 19, 2026. And without a PC version on day one, gamers and fans have two options: pick up the game on PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 5 Pro, or buy it for Xbox Series X|S.

Starting from $80 US, pre-orders for the game went live last week. And according to a post from IGN's social media account, per data from its affiliate linking program, PlayStation 5 pre-orders for GTA 6 are outperforming Xbox Series X|S pre-orders by a factor of 8X. Which means for every eight PS5 pre-orders, there's one for Xbox.

Now, when you factor in that there are exponentially more PS5 consoles out there than current-gen Xbox hardware, and that Grand Theft Auto 6's marketing deal with Sony has seen this pre-order announcement paired with "plays best on PlayStation 5" style taglines, it's not unsurprising. However, in a follow-up statement provided to Windows Central, an Xbox representative has said that this 8-to-1 figure "doesn't represent pre-order data."

"This doesn't represent pre-order data," the statement reads. "We've had record orders. People should wait for real data and not clicks on affiliate links."

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How might the difference in installed console base between PS5 and Xbox Series X|S affect the interpretation of IGN's 8-to-1 affiliate link ratio?

A much larger PS5 installed base can inflate IGN's affiliate link ratio because more PS5 owners means more potential clicks and pre-orders, so an 8-to-1 figure may reflect console availability rather than stronger per-console demand. The article notes there may be three to four times as many PS5 consoles as Xbox Series consoles, which would make a PS5-dominant ratio unsurprising and not definitive pre-order data.

What limitations of affiliate-link-based community data should readers consider when comparing platform pre-order interest for GTA 6?

Affiliate-link community data reflects clicks from a limited, self-selected audience and does not equate to verified pre-order figures, so it can misrepresent actual sales. It can be skewed by factors like larger PS5 install base and Sony marketing that drive more affiliate clicks, so readers should wait for real sales data rather than inferring true demand from affiliate link counts.

Given Xbox's statement about 'record orders' but lack of recent sales figures, what types of 'real data' would validate actual pre-order comparisons between PS5 and Xbox?

Validated comparisons would need actual pre-order sales numbers, not affiliate-link click data. That would mean platform or retailer transaction totals showing how many GTA 6 orders were placed on PS5 versus Xbox Series X|S, or other solid sales figures that track real purchases. Xbox also pointed to "record orders," so any trustworthy comparison would need those recorded order counts made clear and measured the same way on both platforms.

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Now, the original IGN statement was clearly marked as based on its own community data, which meant social media responses quickly spun it into a 'GTA 6 on PS5 is outselling Xbox 8-to-1' narrative. Xbox says it has received "record orders" for GTA 6, which is great to hear, but following that up with "wait for real data" is a little disingenuous, given that Xbox itself hasn't reported solid sales figures for several years. Also, it's probably safe to assume that if there are as many as three or four times as many PS5 consoles out there as Xbox Series consoles, then PS5 will convincingly be the dominant platform for GTA 6.