GTA 6 set for major advantage on Xbox Series X/S, analyst predicts

With GTA VI set to release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S later this year, some gamers lucky enough to own both consoles may be wondering: which platform will be best to play on?

As far as we're currently aware, there's absolutely no kind of exclusivity deal with Sony or Microsoft for GTA VI, so I doubt we need to worry about DLC hitting one console and not the other.

In terms of things like load times and overall performance, I would assume the differences will be minimal, but no doubt we'll get a proper look at the pros and cons of GTA VI on PlayStation and Xbox once it actually launches.

For now, however, at least one analyst is predicting Xbox gamers picking up GTA VI could have one major advantage: it could end up being the cheapest way to play the long-awaited sequel.

Industry analyst Rhys Elliott of MIDiA Research recently explained to Windows Central that the Xbox Series S could well be marketed as the quickest and most inexpensive way to play GTA VI for folk who have yet to upgrade to a new-gen console.

It's entirely possible to pick up an Xbox Series S for anywhere between £200 to £250 at the moment, whereas a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X can cost more than double that.

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

While the Series S' lower price point comes with some technical concessions, there has so far been nothing to suggest GTA VI won't be able to run on the console. Certainly, Take-Two Interactive boss Strauss Zelnick has repeatedly said he doesn't expect any issues in that regard.

One thing Elliot stresses, however, is that PlayStation could end up nabbing the marketing rights for GTA VI. "Take-Two also of course wants to sell the most copies it can and would do so via PS5's higher installed base. That's why I reckon PlayStation will get the rights," they said.

Whatever happens, the Xbox Series S being the cheapest entry point into next-gen gaming is an incredibly powerful argument for more casual gamers who are just looking to play GTA VI.