Microsoft denies reports claiming GTA 6 is getting more PlayStation pre-orders than Xbox

Microsoft has denied reports suggesting that Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 is receiving more pre-orders on PlayStation than on Xbox. The tech giant said the figures circulating online are not based on actual pre-order data. The company said GTA 6 is seeing "record orders" across the Xbox ecosystem and urged people not to rely on affiliate link activity as a measure of sales.

The clarification follows a report published by IGN, which cited internal data from its deal-tracking subsidiary IGN Finds to claim that GTA 6 pre-orders on PlayStation were outpacing Xbox by an eight-to-one margin. The report quickly gained traction online, prompting speculation about the game's performance across the two console platforms.


What Microsoft said about rejecting the PlayStation pre-order comparison


In a statement to Windows Central, an Xbox spokesperson disputed the report, saying, “It doesn't represent pre-order data." The spokesperson added, “people should wait for real data and not clicks on affiliate links," while also stating that Microsoft is seeing "record orders" across the Xbox platform.

According to Microsoft, the figures cited in the report are based on affiliate-link activity rather than retail sales or platform-level pre-order numbers. Microsoft has not disclosed official GTA 6 pre-order numbers. However, currently available console sales estimates suggest that PlayStation has a larger install base than Xbox.

Industry estimates suggest that Xbox Series X/S lifetime sales will reach approximately 35 million units by mid-2026. Sony has projected PlayStation 5 lifetime sales of 93.7 million consoles by the end of the first quarter of 2026. A larger PS5 install base could lead to more pre-orders, but Microsoft said the eight-to-one ratio should not be considered actual sales figures.