UK PS5 and Xbox sales jumped by a third following GTA 6’s Netflix reveal

Key Points:

• PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X console sales in the UK surged by approximately one-third last week following the Netflix reveal of Grand Theft Auto 6, with PS5 sales up 33% and Xbox sales up 34%, according to Nielsen HQ data.
• The GTA 6 ‘Extended Look’ attracted over 30 million viewers on Netflix, contributing to widespread PS5 sellouts and limited console availability at many UK retailers.
• Despite this recent boost, UK hardware sales remain down 14.4% year-on-year, mainly due to a 32% decline in PS5 sales, while Xbox Series sales have increased slightly by 3.1%.
• In the US, console sales experienced their worst July since the pandemic, impacted by supply shortages and significant price hikes, with the average cost of new hardware rising 14% year-on-year to $502.
• Industry expert Ronan Patrick cautioned that the GTA 6 release may not lead to a major increase in hardware sales due to high console prices, but expects some growth in the player base and software engagement, similar to trends seen during the 2020-2021 GPU shortage.