PS5 sales jump 22% in the US as GTA 6 launch nears
The figures come from Circana via Bloomberg. The link to GTA VI is Bloomberg's reading; price rises and the PS5 Pro also played a part.
US PlayStation 5 unit sales jumped 22% in September 2026 as shoppers prepared for GTA VI, Bloomberg reported on October 22. The figures come from market tracker Circana, and hardware revenue grew even faster, by 43%.
What is being reported
| Claim | Status |
|---|---|
| US PS5 unit sales +22% in September 2026 | Reliable report (Bloomberg, citing Circana) |
| PS5 hardware revenue +43% | Reliable report (Bloomberg) |
| Sony the top-earning console maker in the period | Reliable report (Bloomberg) |
| GTA VI is a driver of the jump | Bloomberg's reading, not confirmed by Sony |
Other outlets, such as Bloomberg Línea and TASS, repeat the same numbers, but they all trace back to Bloomberg. We have not seen the Circana report itself.
Update, October 25: Circana's analyst pushes back
Circana analyst Mat Piscatella questions the GTA explanation, according to GTABoom and GamesBeat. He points out that Xbox Series sales fell 27% in the same month even though GTA VI is coming to Xbox too, and, in his own words, put the split at roughly 70% Marvel's Wolverine and 30% GTA VI, while stressing these are “squishy numbers”. Coverage varies in emphasis, so treat the split as an informal estimate, not a measured figure. The original Circana data is unchanged.
Why revenue grew faster than units
Bloomberg notes that price increases over the past year and the popularity of the PS5 Pro lifted revenue beyond unit growth. In other words, GTA VI is part of the picture, not the whole of it. For the Pro's stock situation, see our PS5 Pro shortage report.
Margins are under pressure
The same report says Sony, like its peers, is dealing with high memory prices that cut into the margin on each console sold. That is context from Bloomberg, not something Sony has detailed for this period.
What it means for you
- GTA VI is announced for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19, 2026; you do not need a PS5 Pro.
- Estimated pre-order numbers are a separate topic: see pre-order estimates.
- Plan storage and downloads with the pre-load and file size guide.
We will update this page if Sony, Circana or Rockstar publish more detail.
FAQ
How much did PS5 sales rise in September 2026?
Bloomberg, citing Circana, reports US PS5 unit sales up 22% and hardware revenue up 43% in September 2026.
Is GTA 6 the only reason PS5 sales went up?
No. Bloomberg also points to price increases over the past year and the popularity of the PS5 Pro. GTA VI is described as a driver, not the sole cause.
Does this include Xbox?
The reported 22% is for PS5 in the US. GTA VI is also coming to Xbox Series X|S, but we have no Xbox figures from this report.
Do I need a new console for GTA 6?
GTA VI is announced for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19, 2026. A PS5 Pro is not required.
Sources
- GTABoom — Circana Analyst Disputes Bloomberg Claim That GTA 6 Fueled PS5 Sales Surge (Oct 25, 2026)
- GamesBeat — Circana's Mat Piscatella: ‘Not everyone wants to play GTA’ (Oct 25, 2026)
- Bloomberg — ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ Fuels 22% Jump in Sony PlayStation 5 Sales (Oct 22, 2026)
- Bloomberg Línea — Grand Theft Auto VI impulsa un aumento del 22% en las ventas de PlayStation 5 (Oct 22, 2026)
- TASS — PlayStation 5 sales in US jump 22% ahead of GTA VI release (Oct 22, 2026)
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