The big moment is finally here, and GTA 6 is releasing in a few days. Unfortunately, PC gamers will have to wait a while longer to experience Rockstar’s seminal work after already waiting more than a decade.

But the pull of GTA 6 is so strong that PC gamers are going out of their way to buy consoles specifically for the game. Deciding which console to buy might be tricky, as the console space is vastly different from when this generation launched nearly six years ago.

Most people are looking for a PS5 to play GTA 6, but there’s a much better, overlooked option that offers better value for money: It’s the Xbox Series X.

The Xbox Series X has stronger hardware

More compute units and higher clock speeds

Credit: Shutterstock

Credit: Shutterstock

With the latest generation of consoles, Microsoft managed to get the upper hand over the PS5 with the Xbox Series X in terms of performance. Here’s how their specs compare on paper.

Though the Xbox Series X and the PS5 largely use the same CPU and GPU architecture, the Xbox Series X has higher CPU clocks, more GPU compute units, and more TFLOPS.

Memory bandwidth also shifts the complexity trade-off, since the Xbox Series X divides it into pools for the GPU and the rest for the system, unlike the PS5, which uses a single pool. However, the PS5 has a faster SSD than the Xbox Series X because Microsoft’s console is limited to 2 PCIe 4.0 lanes, compared with the PS5’s 4.

FSR 4.1 could widen the Series X lead

ML upscaling may help GTA 6 run better if Microsoft rolls it out in time

For those who missed it, FSR 4.1 is giving the Xbox Series consoles a second wind with a massive performance boost near the end of its lifecycle. It is officially supported on the Radeon 9000 series, but thanks to a leaked INT8 file, it can be modded onto older RDNA 3 GPUs as well.

Now, AMD and Microsoft are bringing the same technology to the Xbox Series X in two models: FSR 4.1 Light and FSR 4.1 (full model). With this ML-based upscaling, these consoles can free up GPU resources by upscaling images from a lower resolution to a higher one, maintaining most of the quality with better reconstruction.

That said, FSR 4.1 for Xbox Series consoles hasn’t been released yet, and it won’t be implemented across the entire library, but we can expect it in upcoming releases, particularly GTA 6. FSR 4.1 is a direct contender to DLSS 4 and is better on paper than PS5’s QSSR and closer to PS5 Pro’s PSSR, since the underlying technology is the same but is tailor-made for each console.

In a benchmark (via Generacion Xbox), the Xbox Series X had nearly 60% faster AI upscaling than the PS5 with PSSR, with significantly better frame times: 2.75 ms with FSR 4.1, in contrast to the PS5’s 4.4ms with the QSSR implementation.

Most likely, FSR 4.1 won’t be available for GTA 6 at launch since the tech hasn’t debuted on Xbox consoles yet. A post-launch update could bring a performance mode for the Xbox Series X, potentially featuring a 40 FPS mode, with visual trade-offs, of course.

The PS5 Pro is the best console, not the best buy

Two price hikes and a missing disc drive push the total to $1,000

The PS5 Pro never really took off as Sony intended. The mid-gen console refresh had awkward launch timing, right before the AI boom, which has left us with absurd memory prices that will last for a few more years.

As such, the PS5 Pro has had two price hikes, going from an already expensive launch price tag of $700 to $900, and that’s without a disc drive model.

With FSR 4.1, the Xbox Series X should narrow the gap with the PS5 Pro, which previously had an edge in FSR implementation. Rockstar has already announced that GTA 6 is capped at 30 FPS across all consoles, which amounts to little on the PS5 Pro (only RT shadows are exclusive to the PS5 Pro), since it costs $180 more than the Xbox Series X ($800) if you get the disc drive add-on.

GTA 6 is a digital release, but physical media still prevails, and we’ve already seen games like The Crew disappear from libraries when they get delisted.

If you want the console for games beyond GTA 6, going the disc route seems like the most reasonable option.

A used Series X is the smartest way to play GTA 6

Used listings run about half the retail price if you inspect the console first

Credit: Shaheer Khan/MUO

A new Xbox Series X costs $800, $150 more than the PS5 Digital at $650. Straight up, $150 isn’t worth the difference to get a slightly better GTA 6 experience. However, buying a used console can narrow the price gap for the Xbox Series X. In the second-hand market, the Xbox Series X is a bit more lenient on pricing than the PS5.

eBay listings for the Xbox Series X go for around $450, well below the retail price. However, buying a used console comes with considerations, including whether the seal has been tampered with for repairs, whether the console is banned on Xbox Live, whether the disc drive works, whether the controller works fine, and whether the ports work as intended.

It’s definitely one of the easier ways to pick up an Xbox Series X, though. A quick glance at Amazon shows the standard Xbox Series X as unavailable, and the special edition X25 Xbox Series X is “request only,” meaning you might not get one either.

The Series X only wins on value if you buy used

The Xbox Series X is in much better shape than it was when it first launched in 2020. Latest developments, such as the upcoming FSR 4.1 implementation, make it a real consideration. However, the PS5 beats Microsoft’s offering on price, and the second-hand market is still a good way to get the console for nearly half its price.

If the price still looks high, the Xbox Series S could be a decent option as well, especially since FSR 4.1 integration will make up for its weaker specs. Again, you don’t have to pay full retail for this cheaper model. The console still goes for $300–350 on eBay and similar marketplaces, which is still a good deal if you want it specifically for GTA 6.

4K Capability

4K Gaming

4K Capabilities

4K Gaming

Top Games

Halo: Campaign Evolved

What’s Included

Wireless Controller, Halo Campaign Evolved

Brand

Xbox

Storage

1TB SSD

The Xbox Series X X25 Special Edition is a limited edition console made to mark 25 years of Xbox, with a translucent OG Green exterior that shows the internal fan in motion. It has a 1TB SSD, supports 4K gaming at up to 120FPS, and comes with a wireless controller and Halo: Campaign Evolved. Only 25,000 individually numbered, engraved units are available.