A PS6 before GTA VI? According to an insider, probably not.
GTA VI keeps getting delayed and that has consequences, possibly even for the PS6 and the next Xbox.
Analyst: GTA VI Delay Could Push Back Next-Gen Consoles
High-ranking analyst Piers Harding-Rolls from Ampere Analytics recently shared his assessment of the GTA VI delay and the potential consequences it could have for the next console generation:
"A question I'm thinking about more progressively is this: Could the late arrival of GTA 6 have an impact on when next-gen consoles come to market? As the game is such an important driver of hardware sales, not just at launch but over multiple years, Sony and Microsoft will have wanted a much earlier release than late 2026 so they could generate momentum earlier in the cycle.
He also added:
"We are currently forecasting a next-gen PlayStation and Xbox to arrive in late 2027, but might the console companies be tempted to get more from the current console generation by riding the GTA 6 wave and waiting until 2028? The fact that games are now cross-gen makes this less of a factor, perhaps, but such is the size of the GTA franchise, the launch timing will get all areas of the games business thinking about their product strategies".
This makes it clear that Harding-Rolls sees the GTA VI delay as something that goes far beyond a single release. It affects not only player expectations but possibly even the starting point of the next console era.
The Massive Influence Of GTA VI
It is hard to exaggerate how important GTA VI has become within the gaming industry. Its cultural impact ranges from the well-known “XYZ before GTA VI” jokes to claims from industry insiders who predict that the release will trigger a wave of sick days and vacation requests because practically everyone is waiting for this game. The delay was even discussed in the Polish parliament. That makes it very clear just how extraordinarily massive the attention around this title has become.
It is no surprise that Sony and Microsoft are watching the situation around GTA VI very closely. GTA has always been played primarily on consoles, which makes the title extremely important for the strategic planning of both companies. When the next PlayStation or Xbox will launch is therefore likely closely tied to how much momentum they expect to gain from the release of GTA VI.
In The Shadow Of GTA VI
In the end, these developments show that GTA VI is far more than just another big game. It is a pop-culture behemoth that will have an impact on the entire industry. Other developers will also think carefully about whether they want to release their titles in the same timeframe. Until then, all we can do is wait for November 19, 2026, hopefully.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
