Xbox is Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place Ahead of GTA 6

The long-awaited Grand Theft Auto 6 released its first trailer at the end of last year, which unveiled that the game will be released in 2025. Given how monumental of a success GTA 5 was, this upcoming entry in the series has become one of the most anticipated games of the current console generation — if not all time. As GTA 6‘s release looms closer and closer, the preparations being made by both Microsoft and Sony have been called into question.

While GTA 6 will likely come to PC at some point in the future, players should expect a long wait. PC ports for both GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 didn’t come out until over a year after their initial console releases. Anyone hoping to get their hands on GTA 6 near its launch will have to play on either Xbox Series X/S or PlayStation 5. Though these consoles pack some power, GTA 6’s massive scale will be a major test for their hardware. Sony recently unveiled its plan — albeit a controversial one — to make way for GTA 6‘s release, but Microsoft’s silence is cause for concern.

Why GTA 6’s Online Mode Is at Bigger Risk Than GTA 5

It’s probably safe to say that GTA Online will return in GTA 6, but its reprisal may be anything but a safe bet for Rockstar.

How GTA 6 Reveals Differing Console Strategies This Generation

Sony announced the PS5 Pro this past September. Compared to the base PS5, the Pro will feature an upgraded GPU, advanced ray tracing, smoother frame rates, and AI-driven upscaling. The new console drops on November 21st of next year, which is conveniently right around when GTA 6 is expected to release. It’s rumored that Sony has secured marketing rights for GTA 6, and the company will supposedly use marketing materials to show off just how well the PS5 Pro can run the game.

Sony’s Unpopular Pricing for the PS5 Pro

While the PS5 Pro will undoubtedly be the best way for PlayStation users to experience GTA 6, Sony has caught flack for the upcoming console’s price tag. The PS5 Pro comes in at a staggering $699.99, making it around $200 more expensive than an Xbox Series X and $250 more than the digital-only PS5. The PS5 Pro will be more powerful than either of those consoles. However, players are struggling to justify that price tag considering the console’s lack of a disc drive and a report that the PS5 Pro likely won’t be able to run GTA 6 in 4K at 60 frames per second.

Sony is taking a hit in the public’s perception for its approach to the PS5 Pro, but Xbox users are upset for a completely different reason. Microsoft and Sony tend to release consoles in tandem, but when the PS5 Pro was announced, Microsoft didn’t announce anything. Despite rumors that both the Xbox Series X and S will be receiving a mid-generation upgrade, Microsoft seems to be saving those releases for later in the consoles’ life cycles.

The Pros and Cons of Microsoft’s Decision

Holding off on announcing expensive Xbox variants isn’t necessarily a bad move on Microsoft’s end. This keeps a lot of the negativity in the current gaming news cycle directed at Sony and the overpriced PS5 Pro. Microsoft also needs to work on winning users over again before asking them to drop hundreds of dollars on a new console. Many players are wary of Xbox given the ongoing lack of exclusive titles and the closure of many Microsoft-owned gaming studios.

However, the lack of an upgraded Xbox console next year could lead to a rough fourth quarter for Microsoft. The power of the Xbox Series X is nothing to scoff at, but it is a four-year-old console at this point. If even the PS5 Pro won’t be able to run GTA 6 at full capacity, then the release of that game will truly test the limits of the Series X. This could also spell disaster for the Xbox Series S.

More people have a Series S than a Series X, but the S is notably less powerful than its sibling. Microsoft ensures that developers keep the Series S in the loop, yet the Series S’s lack of power has caused issues during the development of larger games like Baldur’s Gate 3. Saving the Xbox’s mid-generation upgrade for later might help Microsoft avoid some controversy in the present, but it might end up pushing GTA fans toward the more capable PS5 Pro in the future.