Sony and Microsoft have both said Grand Theft Auto VI is the most pre-ordered game their stores have ever had. Sony says it on the PlayStation Store, Microsoft says it on the Microsoft Store, and both made the claim on November 10, 2026, nine days before the November 19 launch. Neither company gave a number.
Table of Contents
What Sony and Microsoft actually said
On the PlayStation Blog, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Tim Turi wrote that GTA VI “is now the most pre-ordered game in the history of PlayStation Store.” He added that, because of the demand, Sony joined Rockstar Games to open pre-loading nine days early, and that the game will use a rolling midnight launch by country, starting at 12:00 AM NZDT in New Zealand.
On Xbox Wire, Microsoft’s post opens by calling GTA VI “the most pre-ordered title of all time on the Microsoft Store” and says that, given “the unprecedented demand,” everyone should start pre-loading as soon as possible.
| Store | Official claim | Where it was said |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation Store | Most pre-ordered game in PlayStation Store history | PlayStation Blog, Nov 10 |
| Microsoft Store | Most pre-ordered title of all time on the Microsoft Store | Xbox Wire, Nov 10 |
The claims are limited to each company’s own store. Neither post says how many copies were ordered, and neither compares GTA VI with any named game. For an outside estimate, see our report on the Sensor Tower pre-order estimate, which is a third-party figure and not a Sony, Microsoft or Rockstar number.
Leonida Keys, from Rockstar's official GTA VI screenshot gallery. Image: Rockstar Games
Pre-load is open now
Both platform holders say pre-loading is available today. Sony says players with a code-in-box copy can activate the code as soon as they have it to start pre-loading, and adds that anyone who has not pre-ordered should do so to be ready for November 19. Microsoft says Xbox Series X and Series S owners can pre-install now. Our release time, pre-load and file size guide has the 212 GB requirement and the unlock time in your region.
New on Xbox: GTA 6 through Xbox Cloud Gaming
Microsoft’s post is also the source for a platform detail. Per Xbox Wire, GTA VI will be playable on day one through Xbox Cloud Gaming on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, starting at 1am ET on November 19. Xbox says the cloud version uses Xbox Series S graphics settings.
- Xbox Series X: native play, pre-install available now.
- Xbox Series S: native play, pre-install available now.
- Xbox One: streaming through Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Two more details from Microsoft: starting November 11, players in supported markets can buy cloud playtime to stream supported games without a Game Pass subscription, and Rockstar titles including Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2 are due on Xbox Cloud Gaming “in the coming months.” GTA VI must be purchased separately, and availability varies by market and device. Our guide to Xbox Cloud Gaming without Game Pass covers how the pay-as-you-go playtime works.
The 1am ET streaming start is an hour later than the midnight ET unlock listed for the console versions in our release-time guide, which is based on the store listings. Microsoft’s post does not explain the difference.
A night scene from Rockstar's official GTA VI screenshot gallery. Image: Rockstar Games
What it means for launch week
The store claims line up with what Take-Two said a day earlier. In its results on November 9, the publisher said pre-orders were running well ahead of its plans, and it also did not publish a total; the details are in our Take-Two Q2 report. The practical advice from both stores is the same: pre-load now, because both stores point to unprecedented demand.
If you are still choosing an edition, the pre-order guide compares them, and the countdown shows the unlock time in your time zone. Rockstar’s frame-rate and PS5 Pro details are in our 30 FPS report.
What’s next
Pre-loading continues through the nine days to launch. Microsoft’s cloud playtime purchases open on November 11, and GTA VI unlocks from November 19, starting in New Zealand on the PlayStation Store.
Sources: PlayStation Blog and Xbox Wire, both November 10, 2026 (checked 17:42 UTC).
Live: Follow today’s gaming news as it happens
Featured image: Rockstar Games
