The best controllers for GTA 6: The gamepads I'd recommend for PS5 and Xbox players jumping into Vice City

The long wait is almost over; GTA 6 might already be downloaded and waiting for you to play, so it's time you start thinking about what you'll be playing it with. Whether you need a replacement, a spare, you want to invest in something a bit special to mark the occasion, or you're curious about what's out there, I've pulled together all the best controllers for GTA 6. I've used my expertise from reviewing the best PS5 controllers and the best Xbox Series X controllers for over six years to give you the recommendations that'll suit the game best.

GTA 6 is a third-person action game, which means that pretty much any modern gamepad will work. If you're looking to get a bit more out of the experience, though, it's worthwhile checking out what's on offer at the moment. The controller market is in a really good place right now, with loads of viable options - although some of them can be pretty pricey.

I've reviewed enough of them to know which ones I'd use for GTA 6 launch day, so I've tried to keep this list as succinct as possible. Below, you'll find a "best-for-most-players" recommendation on each console platform, as well as two additional choices that would suit a wider range of players. Xbox and PS5 players are going to both have unique benefits - Sony's console will have additional haptic feedback and adaptive trigger features on the first-party controllers, while Xbox gamers have a wider degree of licensed, third-party pro gamepads that don't break the bank.

The best PS5 controllers for GTA 6

You hardly need to be a controller reviewer for this recommendation, so I'm sorry my best pick for most PS5 players isn't something fancier. The truth is, GTA 6 has been developed for launch in special partnership with PlayStation, so all of the bespoke haptic feedback and adaptive trigger resistance features that you usually only see properly firing on all cylinders in Sony's exclusive first-party games will work here.

PlayStation even dropped a YouTube video to show what kind of feedback and fancy tech you can expect with a DualSense in hand.

Grand Theft Auto VI - Features Trailer | PS5 Games - YouTube

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I do have some caveats though. I'm personally not a big fan of the DualSense since it's had major, major reliability and durability issues since it arrived in 2020. This controller is prone to catching stick drift, it's got infamously lacklustre battery life, and two of my own have seen trigger springs snap just from general use.

So why is it getting a pass here? Well, the cost of officially licensed PS5 controllers is pretty horrible, so the only true "budget" option that you know will work with the console is Sony's own one. What's more, licensing limitations mean that any of those $200 PS5 controllers from other brands won't have any haptics or vibration in GTA 6 because they're not allowed to have rumble motors in them.

As I say, any of the other options mean you'll be spending around $200 / £200. If that's not outside of your budget, I'd like to direct your attention to the options I've provided below.

The best Xbox controllers for GTA 6

If anyone is shopping for a new controller for any Xbox or PC game at the moment, the GameSir G7 Pro is likely one I'd recommend first. There's excellent value for money here compared to the PS5 options. Here, you pay a little more than you would for a stock PS5 controller, and you get drift-immune, top-of-the-line TMR thumbsticks, a charging stand, four extra buttons, and microswitch buttons all over for enhanced feel.

Xbox players might miss out on PlayStation's haptic feedback tricks, but licensing parameters over on Microsoft's side aren't quite so strict. That means that third-party options have vibration feedback in them, and nowadays, plenty of them have wireless support.

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All that, and you pay less than $100 for the G7 Pro, which many controller enthusiasts on Reddit will tell you is the outright best controller on the shelves at the moment. I don't know if I'd agree, but it's certainly one of the best overall, and positively one of the best value options you'll find in time for GTA 6.

Now that it's been on the shelves for a while, GameSir has given it plenty of support by way of extra accessories and loads of new colorways, so there are plenty of ways for you to make it your own.

That said, if you want an even more affordable option and you don't mind wired controllers, or if you want something with more features and don't mind a higher price tag, take a look at the options below.

For more on controllers, take a look at our roundups of the best TMR controllers, the best Switch 2 controllers, and the best PC controllers.