Why did Sony email PS4 owners about upgrading for GTA 6?

What Sony told PS4 owners, and why it matters

Sony has been sending messages to people who still own a PlayStation 4, urging them to upgrade to a PlayStation 5 in order to play Grand Theft Auto 6 when it launches. The push is framed around access: PS4 players are effectively being told that they’ll need a PS5 to play GTA 6.

This matters for two reasons.

First, it signals a hard boundary in Sony’s platform strategy for a flagship release. GTA 6 is positioned as a PS5 requirement rather than something that will be supported on legacy hardware.

Second, the messaging highlights how console ecosystems can shift well before a new generation is fully “installed” across consumers. Even when PS4 ownership remains significant, publishers and platform holders are moving to ensure the audience for the next-gen title is ready—reducing support burdens and expectations around cross-generation availability.

While some GTA 6 players interpreted the emails and associated PS5 upgrade prompts as a sign that the publisher’s marketing campaign is ramping up, the immediate practical takeaway is straightforward: Sony is directing PS4 owners toward PS5 now, aligning with GTA 6’s expected launch window.

In short, Sony’s communications tie platform access directly to GTA 6—turning a major release into a catalyst for hardware upgrades, and reinforcing the next-gen split between current and future console generations.