SIXSTARS
Gear

Which console?

GTA VI launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Here is how the four boxes differ.

SonyLaunch platform$499.99

PlayStation 5

A confirmed launch platform, and the cheapest way onto one with a disc drive if you buy the version that has one.

Get it if

  • You want the confirmed platform at the lowest price, and the DualSense features Rockstar games have historically used.
  • You already own PS5 games. The library carries forward; a Series X purchase starts again.

Skip it if

  • You already own one. There is no announced reason to upgrade for this game specifically.
PlayStation 5 console with DualSense controller
GPU
RDNA 2, 10.3 TFLOPS
CPU
Zen 2, 8 cores at up to 3.5GHz
Storage
825GB custom NVMe SSD, expandable via M.2
Output
Up to 4K120 and 8K over HDMI 2.1
Controller
DualSense, haptics and adaptive triggers
SonyLaunch platform$699.99

PlayStation 5 Pro

The same platform with a larger GPU, Sony's PSSR upscaling and a 2TB drive as standard. GTA VI is PS5 Pro Enhanced; what the enhancement is has not been detailed.

Get it if

  • You are buying a PS5 anyway, the extra is affordable, and you would rather not think about it again this generation.
  • You want the 2TB drive without buying and fitting an M.2 yourself.

Skip it if

  • You are buying it specifically for this game. GTA VI is PS5 Pro Enhanced but what that adds is not known, and buying hardware on an unspecified upgrade is how people end up disappointed on launch day.
  • You need a disc drive. It is a separate purchase on top.
PlayStation 5 Pro console with DualSense controller
GPU
Roughly 45% more powerful than PS5, per Sony
Upscaling
PSSR, Sony's machine-learning upscaler
Ray tracing
Sony states two to three times the PS5 rate
Storage
2TB SSD as standard
Disc drive
Not included, sold separately
MicrosoftLaunch platform$499.99

Xbox Series X

The most powerful confirmed platform on paper, and a confirmed launch platform.

Get it if

  • You want the largest standard SSD on a confirmed platform, and a disc drive without a separate purchase.
  • Your friends play on Xbox. That matters more for an online mode than any specification here.

Skip it if

  • You want the cheapest route in. The Series S is confirmed too and costs considerably less.
Black Xbox Series X console with controller
GPU
RDNA 2, 12 TFLOPS
CPU
Zen 2, 8 cores at up to 3.8GHz
Storage
1TB custom NVMe SSD
Output
Up to 4K120 and 8K over HDMI 2.1
Expansion
Proprietary Storage Expansion Card
MicrosoftLaunch platform$299.99

Xbox Series S

Confirmed, and by some distance the cheapest way to play. It is a materially weaker machine, and it is honest to say so.

Get it if

  • Budget is the constraint and you want in on day one. It is a confirmed platform, not a compromise on whether the game runs.
  • You play on a 1080p or 1440p screen, where the gap between these machines narrows considerably.

Skip it if

  • You have a 4K TV you want to use properly.
  • You buy games on disc. There is no drive and there is no option to add one.
  • Storage matters to you. 512GB fills faster than people expect, and expansion cards are not cheap.
White Xbox Series S console with controller
GPU
RDNA 2, 4 TFLOPS
CPU
Zen 2, 8 cores at up to 3.6GHz
Memory
10GB, against 16GB on the other three
Storage
512GB or 1TB, no disc drive
Target
Built around 1440p rather than 4K