Analysts suggest that the release of GTA 6 may delay the arrival of new PlayStation and Xbox

According to industry analysts, the release of Grand Theft Auto VI could impact not only players but also console manufacturers' strategies. According to circulating rumors, Sony and Microsoft may reconsider the launch dates of their new gaming systems, with GTA 6 itself being a key factor in this decision.

Experts note that delaying Rockstar's game's release to the holiday season on November 19, 2026, changes the demand structure that the companies had originally anticipated for 2025 and 2026. Ampere Analysis analyst Piers Harding-Rolls believes such a late release could push the potential launch of PlayStation 6 and the next-generation Xbox from late 2027 to 2028. He estimates that the scale of the new GTA and its advantageous pre-holiday positioning could stimulate current-generation sales, allowing platform holders to extend the life cycle of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S through attractive bundles and additional marketing.

It is noted that planning for the next generation requires extensive preparation, from reaching agreements with chip manufacturers to developing the launch lineup of games. A minor delay is possible, but could prove costly for companies. However, if GTA 6's impact on console sales continues until 2027, manufacturers may choose to delay the generational change by another year to maximize the increased interest in current hardware.

The impact on players remains uncertain. There have been no official statements from Sony or Microsoft, so any changes to the schedules could be noticeable long before the companies publicly reveal their new plans. This situation highlights how even individual major releases can still influence the marketing strategy of an entire industry.

For now, this remains speculative, but analysts do not rule out that, in order to capitalize on the holiday impact of GTA 6, manufacturers will rely on updated packages, adjusted marketing programs, and reorganized production schedules, rather than sudden announcements of new platforms.