GTA VI Anticipation Drives Up PS5 Sales in the UK

PS5 and Xbox sales in the United Kingdom grew by roughly a third following a showcase of GTA VI, with PS5 up 33% and Xbox Series S/X up 34%.

According to Nielsen HQ, console sales jumped last week after the release of an extended GTA VI video on Netflix. It was viewed by more than 30 million people. Amid the surge in interest, many retailers faced shortages of PS5 units.

This growth stands out against a backdrop of an overall market decline. Console sales in the United Kingdom decreased by 14.4% year-over-year, with PS5 down 32%. Meanwhile, Xbox Series sales increased by 3.1%.

The situation is more complex in the United States, where the average price of a new console reached $502 in May compared to $440 a year earlier. The price of PS5 climbed to $672, while Xbox Series rose to $524.

Newzoo analyst Ronan Patrick believes that the November release of GTA VI will increase the number of consoles owned by players, but not to the extent that manufacturers expect.