GTA VI Caused a Stir in Britain - PS5 Consoles Flew Off the Shelves

PS5 and Xbox sales in the UK increased by approximately one-third after the GTA VI showcase - PS5 gained 33%, and Xbox Series S/X gained 34%.

According to Nielsen HQ, console sales sharply increased last week after the extended GTA VI video was shown on Netflix. It was watched by over 30 million people. Amidst the excitement, many stores faced a shortage of PS5 consoles.

The growth became particularly noticeable against the backdrop of an overall market decline. Console sales in the UK decreased by 14.4% year-on-year, and PS5 sales by 32%. Xbox Series, however, grew by 3.1%.

In the US, the situation is more complex: the average price of a new console in May reached $502, compared to $440 a year earlier. The PS5 rose to $672, and the Xbox Series to $524.

Newzoo analyst Ronan Patrick believes that the release of GTA VI in November will increase the number of consoles among players, but not as significantly as manufacturers expect.