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GTA 6 PS5 exclusivity rumours may not stop surprise Xbox advantage for Rockstar epic

Looking for the cheapest way to get into GTA 6? It might be that the Xbox Series S is the easiest way to do so, if you can handle to technical compromises here's all we know

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Would you buy a console for GTA 6?(Image: Rockstar)

Grand Theft Auto 6 is slated launch in 2025, but it could cost gamers more than they're expecting. We reported yesterday that one retailer has put the game up for almost 90, and they might not be alone.

We'd previously heard the game could cost 80 for UK gamers, while other experts have suggested publisher Take-Two will instead offer pricier deluxe editions.

Others have said the game being priced higher could help 'save' the games industry, but with GTA 6 expected to cause a ton of lapsed gamers to buy a PS5 or Xbox Series console, the latter may have a surprising advantage.

Xbox to be popular for GTA 6?

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Xbox could be a great place to play GTA 6(Image: Future via Getty Images)

WindowsCentral spoke with an analyst about what sway GTA 6 could have on the console sale split, and Rhys Elliott of MIDiA Research has suggested the it could mark a "last hurrah" for Microsoft this generation.

"The Series X|S and PS5 generation has been won, but Xbox could use the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 as a last hurrah for its Series X|S generation, thanks to the low price of the Series S." Elliott revealed.

"Like Rockstars other flagship titles, GTA 6 will hit PlayStation and Xbox before it hits PC. Therefore, it could pay off for Xbox to have a significant Series S push and fire sale to tie in with GTA 6 as one last hurrah for this generation."

"The marketing team should be banging the drum, highlighting that 'the Series S is the most accessible way to play GTA 6.' A sub-$200 Series S could be an enticing entry point to GTA for cash-strapped consumers, of which there are many, thanks to todays tumultuous economy and cost-of-living crisis."

[GTA 6]

GTA 6 may be the most anticipated game of all time

Sadly, that marketing might not come to pass.

"The sad-dad blue elephant in the room here is the likelihood that PlayStation not Microsoft will secure the marketing rights to GTA 6," Elliott adds.

"Hogwarts Legacy got plenty of non-console owners to buy consoles, and most landed on the PS5, owing to PlayStation securing the marketing rights. It is worth noting that PlayStation would very much want the same thing to happen with GTA 6. Take-Two also of course wants to sell the most copies it can and would do so via PS5s higher installed base. Thats why I reckon PlayStation will get the rights."

Naturally, the Xbox Series S is less powerful than its sibling and the PS5, so you might not be able to get over its technical limitations. The Series S can only output to 1440p, but one former Rockstar dev has suggested if you want the best experience (at least until the PC port), you'll want to use the PS5 Pro.

Mike York, who worked as an animator on GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 has previously said that Rockstar devs are likely "geeking out" watching fan theories unfold but has doubts that the studio will hit 60 fps (frames-per-second) for GTA 6 on consoles.

"I don't think [with the] initial release it'll come out at 60fps unless it's getting those 60fps by [using] an AI upscaler thing like the PlayStation is doing [PSSR], unless something is coming in and helping it get those 60fps," York explains.

For more on GTA 6, check out Rockstar's surprising link to British actor Danny Dyer, as well as everything we know about the game so far.

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