GTA V could affect next-gen console sales for PS4 and Xbox One

Grand Theft Auto V could have an impact on excitement for the Xbox One and PS4.  Analysts seem to be divided on Rockstar’s potential impact on the next-gen.  The open-world title recently had a first gameplay showing that garnered a ton of excitement about a game that is set to arrive just weeks ahead of new systems from Sony and Microsoft.

Lewis Ward of IDC believes that interest in the next-generation of consoles is weak in North America, and that games like GTA V aren’t helping.

Gamers are going to stick by their Xbox 360s and PS3s

“Gamers are going to stick by their Xbox 360s, Wii/Wii Us, and PS3s at least until the 2014 holiday season, when the game catalog will be a lot bigger and some of the online kinks will have been worked out. That also means that games like GTA V should have plenty of runway to sell well in the meantime, as long as they deliver the goods,” the analyst told Games Industry.

On the other side of fence, EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich believes that data from retailers like Amazon is showing that there is a huge interest in the Xbox One and PS4.  There have been conflicting reports recently about the amount of demand there have been for these next-gen consoles.  While retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and GameStop have recently sold out of pre-orders for the new consoles, some have indicated that demand could be waning for the new machines.

The simple answer.  Just give next-gen console owners an enhanced version of GTA V on the Xbox One and PS4, and you’ll likely see players flocking for the best GTA experience available.  Where do you stand? Are you going to stick by your Xbox 360 and PS3? Or are you jumping head first into the next generation?