GTA 6 Pre-Orders: Xbox Denies PS5 Is Winning over it

Xbox has publicly pushed back against reports claiming PlayStation 5 is crushing Xbox in GTA 6 pre-orders by a massive 8-to-1 margin, calling the numbers misleading and confirming it has seen "record orders" of its own.

What Started The GTA 6 Pre-Order Controversy

The drama kicked off when IGN posted on social media that, based on its own affiliate link data, PlayStation was outperforming Xbox by 8-to-1 on GTA 6 pre-orders. This claim spread fast across gaming forums and social media, with some reports even citing a 6-to-1 ratio instead. GTA 6 pre-orders officially opened on June 25, 2026, and the controversy erupted almost immediately after.

Xbox's Official Response

Windows Central received a direct statement from an Xbox spokesperson addressing the claim head-on: "This doesn't represent pre-order data. We've had record orders. People should wait for real data and not clicks on affiliate links." This is seen as an unusual move for Xbox, as the company doesn't typically respond this quickly to viral gaming rumors.

Why The Data Isn't Reliable

The 8-to-1 number came only from IGN's own affiliate commerce program, meaning it tracks clicks and purchases made specifically through IGN's website links, not actual total sales across all retailers. This data completely leaves out pre-orders made directly through the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Amazon, GameStop, and other major retailers.

• Affiliate data only reflects one publication's audience, not the whole market

• IGN itself noted this limitation in its own post

• No official combined sales figures exist from Sony or Microsoft yet

Does PS5 Actually Have An Edge?

Even with the flawed data aside, PS5 likely does have some real advantage simply because of console numbers already in homes. PS5 has sold more than 90 million units worldwide compared to roughly 35 million for Xbox Series X|S as of February 2026. Sony also holds an estimated 2-to-1 global hardware advantage over Xbox, which naturally means more people can pre-order on PlayStation regardless of the affiliate stats respawn.

What "Record Orders" Actually Means

It's worth understanding that Xbox calling its GTA 6 pre-orders a "record" doesn't mean it's beating PlayStation, only that it's beating Xbox's own past pre-order numbers. Experts believe both platforms are likely seeing genuinely huge demand in absolute terms, while PlayStation still takes a larger overall share simply due to its bigger install base.

Quick Comparison

Point - Claim - Reality

PS5 beating Xbox 8-to-1 - Based on IGN affiliate link clicks - Not official sales data

Xbox "record orders" - Xbox's own statement - Beats Xbox's past numbers, not proof of matching PS5 gtaboom

Full sales data - Not yet public - Only available after GTA 6 launches on November 19, 2026, respawn.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is PS5 really outselling Xbox 8-to-1 on GTA 6 pre-orders?

Ans: No official numbers confirm the 8-to-1 figure. It comes only from IGN's affiliate link data, not real sales tracking across all retailers.

Q2: What did Xbox say about the pre-order claims?

Ans: Xbox told about the report "doesn't represent pre-order data" and said it has seen "record orders," asking people to wait for real sales figures.

Q3: When will we know the actual GTA 6 sales numbers?

Ans: The actual sales data won't be available until after GTA 6 launches on November 19, 2026.

Q4: Does PlayStation have more consoles than Xbox?

Ans: Yes, PS5 has sold over 90 million units globally compared to about 35 million Xbox Series X|S units as of February 2026.