GTA VI Drives 22% Jump in PlayStation 5 Sales, Bloomberg Reports

Sony’s PlayStation 5 is seeing a 22% sales boost, and Bloomberg links this surge to Grand Theft Auto VI. This figure positions Rockstar’s upcoming release as one of the strongest sales drivers in the market, even before most players have had a chance to play it.

The two Bloomberg articles we checked only share the headline, not the complete story. They don’t detail the time frame, unit numbers, or regions behind that 22% increase. We won’t speculate on those figures, and we’ll take the percentage as Bloomberg’s assertion until they clarify their methodology.

This claim fits a familiar trend. Rockstar’s last game, Grand Theft Auto V, still engages a loyal audience more than a decade after its release on September 17, 2013. It boasts a Metacritic score of 92 and 83% positive reviews on Steam from 648,352 players. A game with such longevity creates a built-in audience for its sequel, likely driving hardware sales.

Recent news highlights this trend. Our records show Bloomberg discussing the development of GTA VI on October 15, 2026, followed by reports indicating the game will prevent PS5 emulation and jailbreaking. Both articles frame the sequel as a major event in the gaming world, not just another title hitting the shelves.

Sony’s own game catalog changes are also important. A report from October 21, 2026, indicates that PS Plus Extra and Premium will lose access to GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2. If this is true, subscribers who relied on these games will need to purchase them or switch to the sequel.

The current audience for GTA V remains substantial. Steam reports 32,184 concurrent players for the 2013 classic. That’s a significant group of potential buyers for the sequel, and this number only accounts for PC users.

By The Numbers

Reported PS5 sales increase (Bloomberg)	22%
GTA V Metacritic score	92
GTA V Steam reviews	83% positive (648,352 reviews)
GTA V current Steam players	32,184
GTA V release date	2013-09-17

Community Pulse

Overall, sentiment around the franchise remains positive across the ten signals we monitored. One Steam reviewer, who logged over 100 hours in GTA V, said that “even after so many hours it’s still fun when playing as a squad,” praising missions, money grinding, and FiveM roleplay. This kind of sustained engagement shows why players remain invested in Rockstar’s ecosystem and highlights the anticipation for the sequel.

What To Watch

• Full Bloomberg data: The details on the reporting period, unit counts, and regional breakdown will reveal if the 22% increase represents a lasting trend or just a brief spike.
• PS Plus catalog changes: The expected removal of GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 from Extra and Premium could affect subscriber habits and sales of these older titles.
• Platform security and access: Reports that GTA VI will block PS5 emulation and jailbreaks suggest Rockstar and Sony are tightening their grip. Look for confirmation from either company.