Xbox has stepped in to clarify that it's actually quite happy about GTA 6's pre-orders on Xbox Series consoles, which may be healthily aligned with Microsoft's overall share of the console market.
A recent report from The Verge's Tom Warren, who has been quite accurate about Xbox's behind-the-scenes plans with past reports, mentioned that GTA 6 pre-orders were heavily skewed towards PS and that this was ringing alarm bells about the console ecosystem. Xbox CSO Matt Ball has responded, clarifying that Xbox is actually quite elated about GTA 6's pre-order performance on Xbox.
"We are very happy with GTA VI pre-orders. The title is breaking records for XBOX, we expect even more records will be broken throughout the fall, and our internal analysis shows our share of pre-orders to be matching our share of the console market,"Ball said on Twitter.
That last part is very interesting. Xbox hasn't added color to its market position for a while, and exact numbers remain unknown. The current figures from analyst firm IDG estimate (see page 9) that there are 129 million gen 9 consoles out on the market as of March 2026.
This figure doesn't include the Switch 2, however. The PS5 was at 93.7 million at this time, and the Switch 2 had 19.85 million. Combining the two yields 113.55 million consoles, which would leave the Xbox Series X/S at only 15.45 million.
Frequently Asked Questions
Open a question for an answer from TweakTown's coverage of this news, or ask your own below.
How does Xbox’s claim that GTA 6 pre-orders match its market share compare with reports of stronger PlayStation pre-orders?
When is GTA 6 scheduled to launch on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation?
Is GTA 6 expected to launch on both Xbox Series X and Series S, and are there known technical differences between the versions?
What GTA 6 performance targets or technical features have been announced for Xbox Series X/S?
Have a question that isn't listed here? Ask below, and TweakBot will answer it.
According to excellent analysis from number-cruncher John Welfare on YouTube, total Xbox Series X/S sales were at an estimated 35.9 million by the end of 2024. Assuming IDG's numbers are solid, the firm would put Xbox Series X/S at around 35.3 million by March 2026.
