GTA 6 pre-orders show strong preference for PS5, driven by Sony's marketing influence.
The biggest story in the PlayStation space today is the noticeable skew of GTA 6 pre-orders towards the PlayStation 5. This is reportedly a result of Sony’s intensive marketing efforts to give GTA 6 the appearance of being a PlayStation exclusive, despite it being a multi-platform release. A report from PushSquare indicates that this approach is evidently working, and it’s contributing to the larger challenges faced by Xbox, including significant layoffs and restructuring.
In related news, Rockstar Games has also announced the release of the ‘Grand Theft Auto VI: The Goodtime State – Vice City Collection’, a premium physical Collector’s Box priced at a hefty $399.99. Notably, this package does not include the game itself, a peculiar choice mirroring their strategy with Red Dead Redemption 2.
New Game Releases and Sales
Meanwhile, Remedy Entertainment has launched Control Resonant, the direct sequel to their 2019 hit, Control. The game, now available on the PlayStation Store, is shifting towards a melee-centric combat system, a notable change from its predecessor. It’s priced at $59.99 for the Standard Edition, with a Digital Deluxe Edition available for $69.99. The release is co-financed and co-produced by Annapurna Pictures, marking a strategic partnership that could influence future Remedy titles (PlayStation Lifestyle).
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is enjoying a significant price cut on the PlayStation Store to coincide with the recent release of Marvel’s Wolverine. The game’s price is reduced by 60%, bringing it down to $27.99 until October 8, 2026. This move is likely aimed at capitalizing on the superhero hype and clearing inventory before the holiday season (PlayStation Lifestyle).
Project Cancellations and Industry Maneuvering
In less positive news, the project Armed Fantasia: To the End of the Wilderness, which was positioned as a spiritual successor to Wild Arms, has been officially cancelled. The publisher, 505 Games, and its parent company, Digital Bros, cited continuous gameplay revision failures as the reason for the cancellation. This highlights the ongoing difficulties some developers face in bringing nostalgic projects to life (more on this at PushSquare).
Additionally, it’s reported that Hideo Kojima’s latest project, Physint, was abandoned by Sony, largely due to budget disagreements. Kojima reportedly demanded a significant sum, despite having planned to release the game on multiple platforms. This demonstrates the challenging dynamics of high-stakes projects between renowned creators and publishers, further complicated by multi-platform ambitions (PushSquare).
