GTA 6 remains on track to launch on November 19, with those who pick up the game on Xbox Series S consoles set for a worse experience.
Rockstar Games hasn’t shied away from the fact that GTA VI is set to be “best on PS5”. Its marketing partnership with PlayStation is already well underway, with the two powerhouses highlighting the DualSense’s unique GTA 6 features.
“The controller’s haptic feedback offers responsive vibrations, while its adaptive triggers provide dynamic resistance,” read a post on the PlayStation Blog. “The controller’s integrated speaker also adds another dimension to key moments and interactions, with sound effects from the controller enhanced by haptic feedback.”
Those who pick up GTA VI on PS5 will also benefit from Tempest 3D AudioTech (if they have the relevant accessory) as well as the console’s ultra-high speed SSD. The game also supports PS5 Pro enhancements, including higher resolution, more stable frame rates, and advanced ray tracing with improved global illumination.
A Divided Console Experience
Alongside this, it’s widely believed that both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X will target 60fps, but unfortunately for Series S users, the all-digital console doesn’t look set to do the same.
Insider Remigiusz Maciaszek has taken to YouTube to reveal as much via his podcast, as spotted by Comic Book. Maciaszek doesn’t particularly delve too far into it beyond stating that 30fps are expected for the Series S — which, admittedly, isn’t all that surprising.
It’s been a common separation for the Series S and Series X, with 007 First Light being one of the most recent major titles to set a framerate lock on the cheaper console.
The Technical Reality
According to reports, the Xbox Series S version of GTA 6 will be “severely cut in all parameters”. Resolution is expected to run between 480p and 720p (upscaled to 1080p), with heavily reduced textures, lighting, and object density. Ray tracing will be entirely missing.
Digital Foundry has noted that the Series S version may need to lose its ray tracing and settle for a resolution below or around 1080p to maintain a stable 30 FPS. The console’s 4 teraflops of GPU power simply cannot keep up with the demands of Rockstar’s latest open-world epic.
The Marketing Campaign
Sony has been aggressive in promoting the PS5 version. A PlayStation Blog post declared that Grand Theft Auto VI “will play best on PS5 by taking advantage of PS5’s immersive features”. The company has even offered a free month of GTA+ for those who pre-order on PS5.
This has led to confusion among some consumers, with the marketing campaign leading many to mistakenly believe GTA 6 is a PS5 exclusive.
The Pre-Order Controversy
GTA VI‘s pre-order launch hasn’t gone all that smoothly.
As much as this is easily one of the most highly anticipated games of all time, there’s some dismay over the fact that Rockstar has launched pre-orders without dropping any raw gameplay. Perhaps the biggest cause for concern at the moment is GTA 6‘s lack of physical disc, with Rockstar instead opting for the “code in a box” method for physical copies.
That’s not a true physical copy at all — “code in a box” offers players a digital code inside a pointless disc box which is only useful for displaying in a collection. In fact, several retailers have boycotted the game, refusing to stock “code in a box” copies in store.
The decision spells bad news for game preservation; it certainly doesn’t help that PlayStation outlined its all-digital future just a few days later. Even GTA VI‘s pricing has caused a ruckus. The Standard Edition will retail for £69.99 / $79.99, with the Ultimate Edition setting you back £89.99 / $99.99. The problem is that the Ultimate Edition locks exclusive story content, missions, and stores behind its higher price point, and that hasn’t gone down all that well either.
Pre-ordering any copy of GTA VI will secure you pre-order DLC, and while the game won’t become available until November 19, pre-loads begin earlier on November 12.
Also, Read
- GTA 6 Launch Delay Possible As Devs Prepare To Strike Amid Final Crunch
- PlayStation 6 Confirmed As Digital-Only Is Made Worse By GTA 6’s $80 Price Tag
- GTA 6 Teases The 2026 Return Of A Popular San Andreas Feature
The Bottom Line
As a source, Maciaszek may have merit, as he correctly leaked The Witcher III: Wild Hunt‘s Songs of the Past DLC ahead of its official reveal. That being said, it’s always safer to take all leaks with a pinch of salt until we get official confirmation from Rockstar Games.
Previous reports suggested that GTA VI might lock itself at 30fps on PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles too, so fair to say that many might find this latest report reassuring. For Xbox Series S owners, however, the message is clear: you’ll be playing a severely compromised version of what promises to be one of the most ambitious games ever made.
Grand Theft Auto VI will be released on 19 November 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The PC port is yet to be announced.