As we inch closer to the highly anticipated launch of GTA VI, the gaming community is buzzing with speculation. The game is set to arrive in 2025 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with a PC version expected at a later date. While Xbox may have an edge for some players, recent reports suggesting that PlayStation could secure exclusive marketing rights have ignited a fierce debate among fans.

Industry analyst Rhys Elliott from MIDiA Research recently spoke to Windows Central, expressing confidence that Sony will secure a major advantage over Microsoft when it comes to marketing the next Grand Theft Auto.

“The reality that many don’t want to acknowledge is that PlayStation, not Microsoft, is the most likely candidate to obtain GTA VI’s marketing rights.”

Elliott pointed to past trends to support this claim: “We’ve seen this before—just look at Hogwarts Legacy. That game pushed a lot of people who didn’t own consoles to buy one, and most chose the PS5 due to Sony securing the marketing deal. PlayStation would undoubtedly want the same scenario to play out with GTA 6. Meanwhile, Take-Two is focused on maximizing sales, and with the PS5 having a significantly larger user base, the numbers favor Sony. That’s why I believe PlayStation will win out.”

Speculation about Sony’s involvement with GTA VI’s marketing isn’t new—it first emerged in late 2024. For many players, it would be an unsurprising move.

“They’re definitely going to package GTA 6 with the PS5 Pro. They did the same thing with the PS3 Super Slim and GTA V,” a Reddit user remarked.

Another player was more skeptical but open to the possibility: “A few years ago, I would have said this was impossible. But when everyone insists Rockstar would never go for it, that actually makes me think they just might. Never let them predict your next move.”

“GTA has always been closely tied to PlayStation. It’s never been exclusive, but Sony has usually been the first to capitalize on it,” another fan observed.

Not everyone is on board with PlayStation’s potential dominance

Of course, not all players are thrilled about the idea of Sony securing preferential treatment for GTA VI.

“It’s all about making your console seem like the ‘correct’ platform for a game. Sure, you can play it on the other one, but it won’t feel right,” one player wrote. “It’s all nonsense, but for some reason, it works.”

Another simply stated: “If this rumor turns out to be true… oh boy.”

Elliott also pointed out that Xbox could still leverage a major selling point if they strategically market the cheaper Series S as the most affordable way for casual players to enjoy GTA VI. However, this tactic would only be effective if PlayStation doesn’t monopolize the game’s marketing rights.

Source: GamingBible