GTA 6 Pre-Orders Spark a Console Data War and a False Sales Claim

The pre-order rush begins The most anticipated launch in gaming just cleared its first commercial hurdle. GTA 6 pre-orders opened at midnight on June 25, 2026 for PS5 and Xbox, according to the Rockstar Newswire. Within hours the conversation had split into two familiar directions: a fight over which console was selling more, and a viral number that fell apart under scrutiny. PlayStation versus Xbox, with a big asterisk IGN reported, based on its own affiliate tracking, that PlayStation was outselling Xbox by roughly 8 to 1, as covered by Kotaku. A later fact-check put the gap nearer 6 to 1. Both figures should be read carefully. This is unofficial affiliate-link data, meaning it reflects clicks and purchases through specific referral links rather than official sales counts from Sony, Microsoft, or Rockstar. It is a signal, not a scoreboard. Microsoft pushed back directly. A Microsoft spokesperson told Windows Central, as reported by Kotaku, "This doesn't represent pre-order data. We've had record orders. People should wait for real data and not clicks on affiliate links." That is a clear reminder that affiliate figures can capture a slice of activity without reflecting the full picture across storefronts and regions. Retail data suggests genuine record demand Away from the console rivalry, the retail signals point to enormous interest. French retailer Cdiscount reported 6 times more GTA 6 pre-orders in 24 hours than Call of Duty or EA FC saw across their entire pre-order periods, according to RockstarINTEL. Cdiscount also reported site traffic up about 500% on June 25, peaking at around 18 times normal levels. Those are the kinds of numbers that indicate real, broad demand rather than a narrow spike. The viral number that was not real Not every figure making the rounds deserved trust. A viral claim that GTA 6 hit 39 million pre-orders and $3 billion in revenue spread quickly across social media. That claim is false. As reported in a Khel Now fact-check published June 27, 2026, the number traces to an unsourced ValueTainment social post with no supporting evidence. No official figures back it up, and it was debunked shortly after it began circulating. It is an easy trap to fall into. A precise-sounding number attached to the biggest game in years travels fast, and the correction rarely travels as far as the original claim. The takeaway Put the pieces together and a reasonable picture emerges. Real demand for GTA 6 looks record-breaking, supported by strong retailer data and Microsoft's own claim of record orders. At the same time, specific viral numbers should be treated with caution until Rockstar or its retail partners release official figures. Affiliate splits and unsourced revenue totals make for exciting headlines, but they are not the same as verified sales. Once GTA 6 launches on November 19, 2026 and players start looking for places to play together, 6Charts will be there to help. We help you find, vote on, and review GTA 6 servers and community experiences, so you can spend less time chasing hype and more time in the game.