New report suggests retailers may run out of PS5 and Xbox stock 'around the launch of GTA 6'

GTA 6 demand could cause a surge in interest for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles

A major retailer has told The Game Business that a shortage is expected due to ongoing hardware component availability

It's said that “Demand will likely outstrip supply during the year-end period"

Retailers could run out of stock for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Series S consoles during the holiday season due to the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6.

That's according to The Game Business, which reports that a major games retailer has warned that a surge in interest for the consoles is expected later this year due to GTA 6. However, there will be a shortage due to ongoing issues surrounding hardware component availability.

"I spoke to a major retailer this week who informed me that they've been told there will be console stock shortages at the end of the year around the launch of GTA 6," said Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Game Business, Christopher Dring.

A senior games buyer, speaking without the permission of his employer, told The Game Business, "that because of the on-going issues around hardware component availability, we won’t be getting the units we want ahead of GTA." The source added: “Demand will likely outstrip supply during the year-end period."

Dring pointed out that Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki told investors in May that "the necessary volume" of PS5 stock "has been secured” for 2026; however, Xbox Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball told The Game Business earlier in the month that there are already Xbox supply issues.

"I can tell you definitively demand for our console exceeds the supply," Ball told The Game Business. "We are putting them in as many stores as possible. We are producing them as quickly as possible. There is a severe limitation to how quickly we can do that, but it’s not a question of appetite.

"We need to do more, but there are constraints here. And so there are, unfortunately, a number of different markets in which we do not have supply. There are other markets in which we have inadequate supply. That is a privilege as a company it is a challenge for us to figure out."

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When we asked about the potential impact GTA 6 will have among consumers, he said, "It’s going to invigorate a lot of players. It’s going to move some additional devices."

Microsoft just announced that the price of the Xbox Series X and Series S consoles will increase by $150 "effective August 1, 2026," so now would certainly be the best time to secure one before the price hike and before there is a shortage.

GTA 6 officially launches on November 19 and will cost $79.99 / AU$129.95 / £69.99 for the Standard Edition and $99.99 / AU$159.95 / £89.99 for the Ultimate Edition. Pre-loads begin on November 12.

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Demi is a freelance games journalist who helps cover gaming news at TechRadar. She's been a games writer for five years and has written for outlets such as GameSpot, NME, and GamesRadar, covering news, features, and reviews. Outside of writing, she plays a lot of RPGs and talks far too much about Star Wars on X.