Here’s why GTA 6 plays best on PS5

Grand Theft Auto 6 is shaping up to be one of the largest launches of the decade, bringing together countless fans who are excited to play it. However, considering the game’s a timed console exclusive, some may wonder why multiple GTA 6 trailers mention that it plays best on PS5.

Whether it’s Sony’s reported close partnership with Rockstar Games or the PS5’s DualSense that aims to make the gaming experience more immersive, here’s why GTA 6 really plays best on a PS5.

What have Sony and Rockstar said about GTA 6 on the PS5?

Sony claims that Grand Theft Auto VI will play best on PS5. In a PlayStation blog post, Sony said its close partnership with Rockstar Games will let the game use all of PS5’s immersive features to give players an excellent experience when it launches. 

Rockstar has included the “plays best on PS5” message in most of its GTA 6 marketing. The callout appears in promotions and on the GTA 6 website when users come through specific social posts. Sony also rebranded its mobile app icon briefly around GTA 6 pre-orders, and PS5 start-up menus have shown a custom GTA 6 animation. Xbox hasn’t done anything similar yet, which makes it clear Rockstar is focusing on the PlayStation version of GTA 6.

How can the DualSense affect the experience of GTA 6?

Sony says the DualSense controller will react to the player’s actions, making the experience more immersive through its haptics and speaker. The controller’s haptic feedback provides responsive vibrations, while adaptive triggers have dynamic resistance. These features can make actions like driving, shooting, and running feel more physical compared to standard rumble.

Although it’s unknown what sounds the DualSense speaker will play, they could include things like ringing phones or gunshots, allowing players to hear subtle audio cues directly from their controllers. Xbox players won’t get the same DualSense features, including its integrated speaker, advanced haptic feedback, and adaptive triggers, but Xbox controllers still have their own vibration and impulse-trigger feedback.

Will the PS5’s audio and loading time advantages help GTA 6?

Sony claims Tempest 3D AudioTech is an advantage for the PS5. Sony’s proprietary spatial audio engine should let players feel surrounded by GTA 6’s environment, whether they’re on the streets of Vice City or in the open areas. Highly accurate audio positioning is meant to improve perception and make the world feel more alive with more directional sounds.

The PS5’s ultra-high-speed SSD is also a big part of the equation. Sony says the game will utilize the drive in a way that lets players experience GTA 6 with almost-instant load times. It’s unknown how much of this will make the experience different from Xbox, but Sony is using both audio and loading as part of its “plays best on PS5” campaign.

Rumored PS5 Pro enhancements

A deleted listing for GTA 6 mentioned two enhancements for PS5 Pro players. The first is PSSR, Sony’s AI-powered upscaling, making the game sharper on higher-resolution displays like 4K. This fits the “plays best on PS5” claim because upscaling can help a demanding open-world game look cleaner without needing to render the game at native resolution. 

The second rumored enhancement is advanced ray tracing, which could improve reflections, shadows, and lighting compared to the standard PS5 version. The game takes place in Vice City and Leonida. This means better reflections and lighting will matter a lot because the entire city will be full of artificial light sources such as neon lights.

Which console has the best value for GTA 6?

The PS5 Pro is the most expensive console option for GTA 6, but it will likely have the best performance and visuals since it’s the strongest choice. The Xbox Series S is the cheapest way to play GTA 6, but it won’t match the performance and visuals of Series X or the base PS5. This makes the PS5 Pro ($899.99 USD) the best choice for players who want the best-looking version, the Series S ($499.99 USD) for budget-conscious players, and the digital PS5 ($599.99 USD) for those who want the best price-performance ratio.

Players looking to buy a PS5 specifically for GTA 6 don’t need the Disc Edition because the boxed physical version will contain a digital download code instead of a disc. This makes the Digital Edition the best option for players who don’t plan on buying other physical games.