Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders are reportedly running about six to one in favor of PlayStation 5 over Xbox Series X/S, according to retailer data sourced by IGN. At the same time, retailers are warning of console shortages heading into the holiday season. Put those two facts together, and you get the thing everyone who lived through the PS5 launch is dreading: scalpers.
Massive lopsided demand and tight supply are exactly the environment in which scalpers thrive, and GTA 6 will deliver both.
A 6-to-1 pre-order split means that for every Xbox copy pre-ordered, roughly 6 go to PS5. It tells you PlayStation is where the overwhelming majority of GTA 6 players are, which is not shocking given the PS5's larger install base and Sony's aggressive marketing partnership.
With that said, the scalping likely won't be as severe this time as during the PS5 launch. In 2020, the PS5 was brand new, and nobody had one, so demand was high, and the restricted supply started from zero. In 2026, nearly a hundred million people already own a PS5, a huge number of players who want GTA 6 already own the console they need. The console-buying demand is mostly from upgraders and newcomers, a smaller pool than the everyone-at-once frenzy of a fresh console generation.
So while shortages and scalping are real risks, especially for the PlayStation 5 Pro, it's just not a reason to fully panic.
The practical advice from our earlier piece still holds. If you need a PS5 to play GTA 6 and you are worried about supply, buy early. Do not wait until November when demand peaks and any shortage bites hardest. Beating both the shortage and the scalpers means buying before the rush.
If you are one of the people who still need to buy a console for GTA 6, the answer is the same as it always is in these situations: get yours early and do not feed the scalpers.
GTA 6 arrives November 19. Make sure you have something to play it on before everyone else remembers they need one too.
Except, of course, you're waiting for the physical edition rumored for December, but don't get your hopes too high.
