We’ve already seen Xbox dispute claims that PlayStation is selling more GTA 6 pre-orders in the build-up to its launch on November 19, and now, Xbox’s Chief Strategy Officer, Matthew Ball, has dismissed fresh reports that the company is worried about ‘heavily skewed’ numbers in the PS5’s favor. In response to a news article posted by The Verge, he simply says, “Not true”.

Ball went on to say that Xbox is “very happy with GTA VI pre-orders” so far, revealing that the game is “breaking records” for the company. He points toward “internal analysis” showing that its share of pre-orders matches Xbox’s overall share of the console market. Ball did not follow up with any specific sales numbers or share percentages, though it’s reportedly at around 23%.

Despite lower market share, Xbox is still breaking sales records

Xbox’s new CSO took the position back in May, as the company continues to restructure as part of the big Xbox Reset, as dubbed by CEO Asha Sharma a few months ago. Since then, there have been mass layoffs, including some earlier this week, with 268 roles being terminated across first-party studios including Halo Studios, Xbox Game Studios management, and more. In fact, now Activision will be in charge of the next Halo game.

Data has shown that nearly 9 out of 10 GTA 6 pre-orders are for the more expensive Ultimate Edition, which sets gamers back $100 and is packed with additional (digital) content, and given just how anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI is, it’s not a huge surprise to hear Xbox is breaking records with pre-orders so far, even with lower market share.

Rockstar Games has officially advertised GTA 6 as a “Plays best on PS5” title thanks to exclusive support for features such as haptic feedback and adaptive triggers on the DualSense controller. It also enjoys Tempest 3D AudioTech for more immersive sound and “near-instant load times” on the PlayStation 5’s SSD storage (Xbox Series X|S is, of course, also fitted with an SSD).

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.