The best console deals for GTA 6: Where to buy PS5 and Xbox ahead of launch day

GTA 6 finally launches on Nov. 19, and if you still need hardware to play, here’s the truth: none of the consoles are actually on sale. Between massive launch hype and tight hardware supply, Sony and Microsoft are holding firm at standard retail prices across the board, so your best move right now is simply finding a legitimate system in stock before shelves clear out.

With launch day right around the corner, inventory is already drying up — especially on higher-end models like the PS5 Pro, which is largely sold out at major stores. Because there is no PC version at launch and older systems like the PS4 and Xbox One cannot run the game natively, everyone is scrambling for the handful of current-gen PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S models that are still in stock.

To save you from wading through third-party marketplace listings charging hundreds of dollars above sticker price, we rounded up the consoles that can play GTA 6 on day one — and where you still have a solid shot at grabbing them at regular retail price before they vanish.

Best budget Xbox option

If you want to play Grand Theft Auto VI on day one without spending a small fortune, the Xbox Series S is the cheapest brand-new ticket into Vice City. Because it is an all-digital console with no disc drive, you will need to download the game directly from the Xbox Store. Even with simpler graphics settings and a lower screen resolution than the flagship consoles, it still runs the game at the exact same 30 fps as the PS5 Pro and supports quick game-switching, while keeping plenty of cash in your bank account.

Best budget PS5 option

If you want a PlayStation without paying extra for a disc drive, the PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition is Sony’s lowest-priced current-gen console. Because it is a digital-only system, you will need to download Grand Theft Auto VI directly from the PlayStation Store, though its 825GB hard drive gives you plenty of room out of the box. You still get the exact same power and DualSense controller features — including haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and 3D audio — as the disc version, and you can always buy Sony’s external disc drive add-on separately later if you change your mind.

Best PS5 for physical game discs

If you prefer buying physical game discs instead of relying solely on downloads, the standard PlayStation 5 Console is the only current-gen PS5 model with a built-in Blu-ray drive out of the box. Having a disc drive lets you pick up a physical copy of Grand Theft Auto VI at a local store, lend it to a friend once you roll credits, or trade it in later. It also bumps the built-in solid-state drive up to a full 1TB, giving you plenty of storage space, along with the same DualSense controller features, fast load times, and the pre-installed Astro’s Playroom game as in the Digital Edition.

Best high-end Xbox console

If you want sharper 4K visuals and a built-in disc drive on the Xbox side, the Microsoft Xbox Series X Console is the best model to grab. Unlike the cheaper Series S, it comes with a full 1TB of storage space out of the box, plays physical game discs, and makes Vice City look noticeably sharper while running at the same 30 fps speed as every other console. Outside of Grand Theft Auto VI, features like Quick Resume let you hop back into different games without waiting on loading screens, and it plays older games from four generations of Xbox — including classics like Red Dead Redemption 2, Grand Theft Auto IV, and Halo 3.

Best PlayStation console for top-tier visuals

If you want the sharpest picture and best lighting possible when exploring Vice City, the PlayStation 5 Pro Console is the system to buy. Even though Grand Theft Auto VI still runs at 30 fps on the Pro just like every other console, Rockstar confirmed it gets exclusive ray-traced shadows and cleaner image upscaling that you will not find anywhere else. It also comes with a massive 2TB solid-state drive that easily swallows the huge game file, leaving plenty of room, though keep in mind it ships without a disc drive — so you will need to download the game digitally or buy Sony’s detachable disc drive separately.

Console discounts might be off the table right now, so your best move is to lock down your system at regular retail price before Vice City traffic clears the rest of the shelves.

​Mashable