(*6*)
Microsoft has misplaced this console technology to Sony on the subject of pure gross sales, however in accordance with one analyst, the discharge of GTA 6 may very well be a “final hurrah” for the Xbox Collection X and S consoles. Rhys Elliott of MIDiA Research mentioned in an interview that, though Sony will emerge as this console technology’s victor, Microsoft may benefit considerably from GTA 6’s launch when it comes to {hardware} gross sales, particularly of the cheaper Collection S console.
“Like Rockstar’s different flagship titles, GTA 6 will hit PlayStation and Xbox earlier than it hits PC. Subsequently, it may repay for Xbox to have a big Collection S push and hearth sale to tie in with GTA 6–as one final hurrah for this technology,” Elliott informed Windows Central. “The advertising workforce ought to be banging the drum, highlighting that ‘The Collection S is probably the most accessible option to play GTA 6.’ A sub-$200 Collection S may very well be an attractive entry level to GTA for cash-strapped customers, of which there are a lot of, due to right now’s tumultuous financial system and cost-of-living disaster.”
At present, the 512 GB Xbox Collection S is priced at $300, with the 1 TB model going for $350–it’s not unusual to see decrease costs, although. Even when these costs maintain till GTA 6 launches this yr, the Collection S would stay the least-expensive console somebody may purchase to play GTA 6, because the Collection X and PS5 are dearer.
The Collection S is underpowered in comparison with the Collection X and the PS5, after all, however Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick is not apprehensive about that. “Look, we assist the platforms the place the customers are for so long as they’re there, and we discover a option to assist platforms regardless of completely different ranges of tech. Our labels are actually good at that. I am probably not apprehensive,” Zelnick mentioned.
Nevertheless, Elliott additionally talked about how the “sad-dad blue elephant within the room” is the chance that Sony, not Microsoft, secures advertising rights to GTA 6. If this occurs, it may give Sony a much bigger edge, as trailers and different advertising supplies would deal with PlayStation, not Xbox. Elliott identified how Sony paid Warner Bros. for the advertising rights to Hogwarts Legacy, which he mentioned led to non-console house owners shopping for a PlayStation console, not Xbox, to play the sport.
“It’s value noting that PlayStation would very a lot need the identical factor to occur with GTA 6. Take-Two additionally after all needs to promote probably the most copies it may possibly and would achieve this by way of PS5’s increased put in base. That is why I reckon PlayStation will get the rights,” Elliott mentioned.
Console gross sales within the US are slumping, and different specialists have predicted that GTA 6’s launch–combined with the debut of the Swap 2–could assist carry the general gaming market in 2025.
GTA 6 launches this fall for PS5 and Xbox Collection X|S, although it may very well be delayed. Rockstar Video games launched the sport’s one and solely trailer again in December 2023, and since then, the corporate has not mentioned a single phrase in regards to the recreation.