Xbox Offers GTA 6 Players a Significant Edge Over PS5 Users

Grand Theft Auto 6 is shaping up to be one of the most eagerly awaited titles of the decade, and when pre-orders opened, fans jumped at the chance to secure their copy. As a timed exclusive for consoles, players eager to dive in on launch day will need to choose between Xbox Series X/S or PlayStation 5. While many gamers have already made their platform choice, others are still weighing their options, and one key detail might influence their decision.

On PS5, download codes for GTA 6 are region-locked, whereas Xbox offers a more flexible approach. Following the pre-order rush, reports indicated that the PS5 affiliate link saw an impressive 8-to-1 performance over Xbox’s. This led to the perception that PS5 was the more popular choice. However, Xbox clarified that this data was based on web traffic rather than actual sales figures, asserting that they have experienced record pre-order numbers for GTA 6. The region-locking on the rival platform could give Xbox an edge in attracting more players.

Region-locked games can only be redeemed if the player’s account country matches the code’s designated region. Since Grand Theft Auto 6 will not be available on physical discs, and physical editions will only include a code, all players will need to opt for a digital version. This means PS5 users will face the region-locking issue, while Xbox players can redeem codes on any account, regardless of region.

For PlayStation gamers considering a physical edition instead of a digital purchase, knowing their region is crucial. Even though the physical version will only contain a code and no disc, many fans enjoy collecting game boxes and displaying them. This desire is one of the reasons gamers are pushing back against any moves to eliminate physical game sales altogether. To avoid activation problems, players should be aware of their region:

With limited advantages to buying the physical version of Grand Theft Auto 6, retail stores are struggling, as pre-orders have noticeably declined. Reports from employees indicate that many players are opting out of purchasing these boxed editions with region-locked codes, preferring to make their digital pre-orders from the comfort of their homes instead.