There has been a significant number of players who have yet to make the switch from their old-gen consoles to the current-gen consoles such as PS5 and Xbox Series X. According to industry analyst Mat Piscatella, even 3.5 years after the launch of PS5, there are still 97 million active users on PS4. Piscatella emphasizes the importance of Grand Theft Auto VI in driving these holdouts to finally transition to the latest consoles.
Piscatella coined the term “black hole games” to refer to popular cross-generation games like Fortnite, Minecraft, Roblox, Call of Duty, and GTA V that have retained large player bases on older consoles. These evergreen titles make it easy for casual gamers to stick to their old hardware instead of upgrading to the newer consoles.
As the much-anticipated sequel to the best-selling video game of all time, Grand Theft Auto VI has the potential to break the cycle of players staying on legacy consoles. With no announced PC version and being a current-gen exclusive, GTA 6 could be the driving force behind a mass migration of players to PS5 and Xbox Series X. Piscatella points out that while Sony data is specifically referenced, it is likely that Xbox is also looking to convert more users to the latest hardware.
The launch of GTA 6 could mark a significant shift in the console market, pushing both PlayStation and Xbox users to move on from their last-gen consoles for good. Despite potential releases of a PS4 Pro and Xbox mid-cycle refresh, Piscatella believes that these iterations will not have a substantial impact on driving players towards the newer consoles. He argues that iterative consoles are mainly targeted at early adopters and enthusiasts, rather than the majority of players still on older hardware.
While rumors suggest a potential launch of a PS5 Pro in the near future, there is less information about an equivalent refresh for Xbox. However, it is inevitable that both platforms will undergo hardware updates at some point. Regardless of potential hardware releases, the anticipation for GTA 6 remains a significant factor in influencing players to make the switch to current-gen consoles.
The release of Grand Theft Auto VI could be a game-changer in the console market, finally convincing long-time holdouts to transition to PS5 and Xbox Series X. As the industry continues to evolve, the impact of blockbuster titles like GTA 6 cannot be underestimated in driving players towards the latest gaming hardware.
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