Sony emails PS4 owners to buy a PS5 for GTA 6

In a striking marketing campaign, Sony has spent the past week sending emails to PlayStation 4 owners encouraging them to upgrade to a PlayStation 5. The move appears to be a prelude to the upcoming launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, which is scheduled for 19 November 2026. The emails are aimed at players who have not yet moved to Sony’s latest console and highlight that GTA VI is on their wishlist.

Major marketing push

The emails include the message: "Grand Theft Auto VI is on your wishlist. Secure a PlayStation 5 today so you’re ready for the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI on 19 November 2026." It is notable that Sony is taking this approach, especially since the company has made no secret of its work with Rockstar Games on promoting the title.

The campaign also seems to fit neatly into Sony’s broader marketing strategy; after all, this is not the first time the company has launched a push to encourage players to upgrade to PS5. During its most recent quarterly results presentation, GTA VI was even the only third-party game mentioned, further underlining the collaboration between Sony and Rockstar Games.

Community reaction

Many players on social media have responded to receiving these emails. Some users reported that they even received notifications through their PlayStation accounts. This suggests the campaign has a wide reach and shows Sony is trying to get in front of as many PS4 users as possible.

There is plenty of speculation within the gaming community that this marketing activity is a sign of more official GTA VI announcements to come. Experts expect Take-Two, Rockstar Games’ parent company, to share more concrete information about the game soon.

Developers’ stance

The partnership between Sony and Rockstar Games is nothing new. Since the release of the previous entry in the GTA franchise, the game’s marketing has been closely coordinated. With the launch of GTA VI approaching, both the studio and the platform have adjusted their strategies to better reach their audiences.

Given the high cost of the PlayStation 5, it is not surprising that Sony is warning potential buyers in advance about the need to upgrade if they want to play the latest GTA game.

More information about GTA VI is expected to be revealed in the coming months, especially with the launch drawing closer and Sony’s marketing activity ramping up.