Retailers warn of console shortages amid GTA VI pre-orders

Retailers are warning consumers that they likely won’t have enough consoles to meet demand when GTA VI is finally released.

This is the sentiment from multiple retailers, as reported by The Game Business, including one unnamed senior games buyer at a company who spoke to the publication.

“We’ve been informed that because of the on-going issues around hardware component availability, we won’t be getting the units we want ahead of GTA,” said the source. “Demand will likely outstrip supply during the year end period.”

It’s a testament to the power of GTA during a time when people are buying fewer consoles than ever amid rising hardware costs. In the past several months, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and Valve have all already rolled out, or at least confirmed, price hikes of their respective systems.

It should also be noted that GTA VI will cost more than your average current-gen game. While most PS5 and Xbox Series X/S titles are priced at $89.99, GTA VI will cost $109.99, as confirmed this week when pre-orders went live. That said, this is in line with the higher price that Nintendo arbitrarily started charging for some Switch 2 games, including Mario Kart World.

Between ever-rising hardware costs and the threat of diminishing console supply, those interested in GTA VI are probably better off biting the bullet and getting a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S now while you can. The game isn’t coming to PC when it launches on consoles on November 19, so those are your only options. (For reference, previous Rockstar games like GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2  came to PC a while after console.)

Image credit: Rockstar Games