New GTA 6 Pre-Order Figures Disputed as Xbox Claims Record Sales

The battle for GTA 6 pre-orders has taken a contentious turn, with conflicting reports emerging just hours after pre-orders went live. Vice reported that pre-orders on PlayStation 5 are leading Xbox Series X by a 6-to-1 margin, citing data from major retailers who also warned that console shortages could disrupt the game's launch. However, Microsoft has pushed back hard against that narrative.

In a rare statement, Xbox publicly disputed claims that PlayStation 5 pre-orders were eight times higher than those on Xbox Series X|S, calling such data unreliable. According to TrueAchievements, the company urged players to "wait for real data" rather than rely on the disputed figures.

"wait for real data"

Microsoft's pushback came alongside a claim of its own. PureXbox reported that Xbox confirmed it has seen "record" pre-orders for GTA 6 across both Series X and Series S, though it declined to provide specific numbers. The statement was issued to Windows Central in response to a report that had suggested an 8:1 gap among IGN readers.

"record" pre-orders

Meanwhile, Vice's original reporting highlighted that retailers are warning of console shortages at launch, potentially leaving many players unable to secure a new PlayStation 5 or Xbox in time for the release. The discrepancy between the reported 6-to-1 margin and Microsoft's upbeat assessment suggests the true sales breakdown remains unclear.

As the pre-order window continues, the lack of transparent, aggregated data from either platform holder means players will have to rely on future official statements to gauge which console is winning the early sales race. For now, the only certainty is that GTA 6 is driving major demand across both ecosystems.