PlayStation 4 owners have received an email from Sony telling them to get ready for the launch of GTA VI by purchasing a PlayStation 5. Grand Theft Auto VI isn’t expected for a little over six months on November 19, but that isn’t stopping Sony from putting its hopes on the game for more console sales. It’s no secret that Sony has already raised prices for its PS5 consoles and could easily do so again before GTA 6 launches, but in the meantime, it has sent the following email to PS4 owners.
PS4 Players are now receiving messages and emails from PlayStation asking them to upgrade to PS5 to get ready for GTA 6.
— GTA 6 Countdown ⏳ (@GTAVI_Countdown) May 8, 2026
Too many signs indicating the November 19 release date is locked in. pic.twitter.com/LeeRR28CCk
A shameless product plug isn’t unheard of, especially when it involves a highly publicized product, but the timing of this one is a bit suspect. These messages are coming from Sony at a time when console prices are increasing, and sales are expected to decrease. The console manufacturer’s more recent financials were published last week, indicating a flat year-over-year prediction due to increased investments for the PS6. There’s been a lot of speculation regarding the next console, ranging from a release date to price, which Sony CEO and President Hiroki Totoki stated is still undecided, and many are wondering how the company is adjusting to the current DRAM/NAND shortage.
Totoki has said (via VGC) that Sony has procured supplies for the current year’s PS5 production, leaving doubts about what will happen after that. However, it’s been acknowledged that BOM (bill of materials) is affected by component costs, which could have a huge impact on consoles in general.
““We have not yet decided on at what timing we will launch the new console, or at what prices,” Totoki said, via Sony’s translator. “So we would like to really observe and follow the situation.”
– Hiroki Totoki, Sony CEO and President
Dr. Serkan Toto, the CEO of Kantan Games, a games industry consultancy firm, has gone on record saying that the release of GTA 6, which is only planned for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, to drive console sales but also acknowledges it may not be enough to “magically revitalize the entire industry,” but that “If GTA 6 does not get delayed into 2027, it will be all that Sony needs this year.”