Microsoft rebuts claims PS5 outsold Xbox 8 to 1 in 'GTA VI' pre-orders

June 29, 2026 - 18:20

The numbers don't lie, but do they tell the whole story? Microsoft has officially responded to recent reports suggesting that PlayStation 5 pre-orders for the upcoming "Grand Theft Auto VI" are outpacing Xbox Series X|S pre-orders by a staggering ratio of eight to one. The claim, which spread rapidly across gaming forums and social media, was based on leaked retailer data and third-party tracking estimates. However, Microsoft is now casting doubt on the accuracy of those figures.

In a statement to press, a Microsoft spokesperson argued that the reported ratio is misleading and does not account for several key factors. The company pointed out that a significant portion of the Xbox player base remains on the previous generation, the Xbox One, and that many of those users have not yet upgraded. Microsoft noted that Game Pass subscribers often wait for day-one availability or discounts before committing to a pre-order, which can skew early sales comparisons. The company also emphasized that digital pre-orders on the Xbox platform are not always captured by the same third-party trackers that monitor physical retail.

While Microsoft did not provide its own internal pre-order numbers, the rebuttal serves as a reminder that early data can be incomplete. The true test will come when "GTA VI" actually launches, and the final sales figures are tallied across all platforms. For now, the debate over which console is leading the pre-order race remains unresolved, with both sides pointing to different metrics to support their claims.