Grand Theft Auto VI: PS5 vs Xbox Series X/S — Which Version Should You Buy?
Grand Theft Auto VI launches November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. A PC version is expected later, but if you want to play on day one, you’ll need to choose a console. Here’s what we know so far to help you decide.
Pre-Order Trends Lean Heavily Toward PlayStation
After pre-orders opened, IGN reported that PS5 versions were outselling Xbox at an eight-to-one ratio. Microsoft disputed those numbers, but if IGN’s readership reflects the broader market, players are leaning strongly toward Sony’s platform.
Official Gameplay Footage Comes From PS5
The only official extended gameplay look — a 26-minute video released on Netflix in late August — was captured on PlayStation 5. Sony has leaned into this in its marketing, stating the game plays best on PS5
.
“Thanks to the close partnership between Sony Interactive Entertainment and Rockstar Games, Grand Theft Auto VI will play best on PS5 by taking advantage of PS5’s immersive features to deliver a deeply engaging single-player experience when it launches on November 19,” a Sony blog post reads.
Sony hasn’t provided technical details on what “plays best” actually means. Until the game is in hand, we can’t verify any performance advantage.
Graphical Showcase: Comparable on Series X, Questions on Series S
Digital Foundry, known for deep technical analysis, called GTA VI the most impressive example of real-time game rendering
they’ve seen. The raw power gap between PS5 and Xbox Series X is small, so the Series X version should be comparable based on the Netflix footage.
One caveat: Digital Foundry expects the game to launch at 30 frames per second on both consoles, with no 60 FPS mode planned — and possibly never arriving. For an open-world crime saga, 30 FPS is widely considered acceptable.
What About Xbox Series S?
The Series S ($500) is the most affordable current-gen option, but it’s significantly less powerful than the Series X. Rockstar hasn’t revealed any Series S specifics. It’s reasonable to assume lower resolution and reduced settings, though an unplayable release would be highly unusual for a title of this scale. More technical details will surface before launch.
Pre-Order Options
Standard Edition — $79.99
Ultimate Edition — $99.99
We’ll update this guide as Rockstar and platform holders share final performance specs, resolution targets, and any platform-exclusive features ahead of the November 19 release.
