Rumor: Sony May Have Secured GTA 6 Marketing Rights

A new report suggests that Sony has secured exclusive rights to market Grand Theft Auto 6 alongside the PS5 and upcoming PS5 Pro. Sony’s relationship with Rockstar Games dates all the way back to the PS2 days, so it wouldn’t be too surprising if the pair of gaming juggernauts joined forces to market the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto 6.

Very few gaming franchises have penetrated the general consumer mind share as massively as GTA has, with the series’ lifetime sales having surpassed 410 million units as of September 2023. The next entry in the franchise, GTA 6, is set to add to that number substantially thanks to the gargantuan level of hype behind it. Although GTA 6 is slated for release in fall 2025, fans have been wondering when Rockstar plans to show off more of the sandbox crime game. Some have even taken it upon themselves to try and decipher “clues” that could allude to when Rockstar speaks about GTA 6 again, but to no avail so far.

It remains to be seen when GTA 6‘s next trailer will debut, but speculation around the game continues to proliferate, with one very recent rumor indicating that Sony could have struck a deal with Rockstar for exclusive marketing rights to GTA 6. During the latest episode of the XNC Podcast, industry insider MAGG claimed that Sony has “locked down” a marketing agreement for GTA 6 which will allow the company to advertise the game alongside “PS5 and PS5 Pro only.” The insider assured that the Sony deal won’t affect GTA 6‘s availability for Xbox Series X/S users, but will diminish its “marketing exposure” on the Microsoft platform.

Sony Will Apparently Go “Heavy” on GTA 6 Marketing for PS5 Pro

MAGG added that this exclusive marketing arrangement will be disclosed when Trailer 2 for GTA 6 releases, as it will supposedly feature the PlayStation logo. He also reckons GTA 6‘s second trailer will air at the 2024 Game Awards this December, but isn’t too sure of this. Interestingly, MAGG’s report was further corroborated by insider RedGamingTech in a recent tweet, who alleged that Sony will use GTA 6 for “heavy marketing” of the PS5 Pro. However, they do advise taking the information with a of salt until it’s officially confirmed.

PlayStation securing exclusive marketing for a paradigm-shifting release like GTA 6 could be a huge deal. Not only would it help associate PlayStation with GTA 6 in the eyes of the general consumer, but also possibly allow Sony to sell PS5 and PS5 Pro consoles bundled with GTA 6. As a current-gen-only game, GTA 6 will likely drive an unprecedented spike in PS5 and Xbox Series X/S sales when it launches, and many first-time buyers will no doubt gravitate towards the console that has a copy of GTA 6 included. A dedicated PS5 Pro setting that potentially runs GTA 6 at 60fps might also be on the cards, but only time will tell.