There aren't many things you can count on in life, but one of them is GTA 6 being one of the biggest releases of recent years. Just how big? Well, that remains to be seen, but a higher-up at Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian Studios believes Rockstar's new crime sandbox will be a defining game for the PlayStation 5.
On Twitter, Michael Douse, the director of publishing at Larian, responds to an analyst's claim that Grand Theft Auto 6 will be one of the biggest selling games ever on its first day. "It's going to be what Mario Kart for Switch is, but GTA 6 for PS5," he says. "I wouldn't be surprised if it hits 50% of the 90+ mil PS5s in a week."
For clarity, he means Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a game that's become ubiquitous on the Nintendo Switch since releasing on the console in 2017. It remains the system's best-selling game, shifting over 70 million copies to date.
It's going to be what Mario Kart for Switch is, but GTA6 for PS5. I wouldn't be surprised if it hits 50% of the 90+ mil PS5s in a week. That said, player behavior is very different to when GTA5 launched. So is buying power. https://t.co/JBVkWXHZLiMay 5, 2026
If Rockstar wants to emulate the success of anything, it'll be that. Landing on half of the world's PlayStation 5s – some 45 million machines – within seven days would be incredible, and it certainly seems feasible given the 13 years of build-up.
But, as Douse points out, things are different now to how they were when GTA 5 came out. "Player behavior is very different to when GTA5 launched. So is buying power," he adds.
He's correct on both counts. It's harder to predict what the masses will gravitate towards, and with services such as PS Plus and Game Pass, people have more selection at their fingertips than ever. That's without getting into the current economy and how much of an investment it feels for many people to buy a triple-A game brand new these days.
But then, this is a new Grand Theft Auto. Should GTA 6's current release window hold, November will be an interesting month for the industry.
