Sony is banking on GTA 6 as a key PlayStation release

Even with a strong pipeline of first-party games for 2026, including the long-awaited Marvel's Wolverine, Sony is building its strategy around a completely different project. According to journalist Jason Schreier, as revealed on the Xbox Expansion Pass podcast, the company's management internally views Grand Theft Auto VI as practically a domestic exclusive and the centerpiece of the fiscal year.

This approach is explained by expectations for the game's market impact. Sony is confident that the release of GTA 6 will be a powerful driver of PlayStation 5 sales. The absence of a PC version at launch and the weakened position of Xbox create a situation in which Sony's platform could become the primary entry point for millions of players. The company expects most users to choose the PS5 to experience the new installment in the iconic series, which will directly impact sales of consoles and related services.

This is why Sony intends to free up the GTA 6 release window from its own major releases, so as not to distract audiences. Although Rockstar's project remains formally multi-platform, it has become a key asset in Sony's strategic planning, comparable in importance to PlayStation Studios games.