Rockstar plans to launch Grand Theft Auto (GTA) VI on November 19. The highly anticipated game will release exclusively on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Consequently, PC players will miss out on the day-one launch. Furthermore, Rockstar has not confirmed if the online component will launch on release day or face a delay, similar to the initial GTA Online rollout in 2013.
Meanwhile, mounting evidence suggests Sony holds exclusive marketing rights for the upcoming blockbuster.
Pushing the PlayStation 5 Upgrade
Starting in early May 2026, Sony launched a targeted email campaign. The company sent promotional messages directly to current PlayStation 4 owners. These emails explicitly urge users to buy a PS5 to play GTA VI.
According to reports, Sony is sending emails to some people who currently don’t own a PS5 and who have GTA VI wishlisted on the PlayStation Store to market them to buy a PS5 https://t.co/YgtmDaQxos
— ben (@videotech) May 8, 2026
Specifically, Sony targeted users who still play on a PS4 and have wishlisted the game on the PlayStation Store. Observers have spotted these messages in English, French, and Spanish. Therefore, Sony is clearly leveraging the open-world game to push its current-generation hardware.
GTA VI Trailer Watermarks & Executive Hints
The clues actually started earlier. The second GTA VI trailer recently celebrated its one-year anniversary on May 6. Crucially, this footage featured a “Captured on PS5” watermark right at the 2:42 mark.
Moreover, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick recently fueled the fire. He spoke at the Interactive Innovation Conference in Las Vegas in late April 2026. During his remarks, Zelnick hinted at a potential exclusive Sony marketing deal. However, he stopped short of explicitly defining the parameters of the agreement.
A Suspiciously Empty Store Today
Right now, on May 11, the PlayStation Store deals page looks completely empty. The platform features no active promotions beyond basic PS Plus discounts. This marks the first time in years that Sony has cleared this specific page. The company plans to launch a “Next Level Savings” sale shortly on May 13.
As a result, industry watchers and fans speculate that Sony emptied the storefront to maximize visibility for a massive reveal. They expect a major GTA VI announcement, such as gameplay footage or pre-order details, to drop in the May 11-12 window.
