GTA VI sets record as the most pre-ordered game ever on PlayStation and Xbox. Read how Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games confirmed massive pre-loads.

Grand Theft Auto VI became the most pre‑ordered game ever on both PlayStation and Xbox stores, the companies said on Friday as pre‑loads opened to players.

Record pre‑orders confirmed

Take‑Two Interactive reported that pre‑order demand far exceeds its initial expectations. CEO Strauss Zelnick said the numbers will speak for themselves soon and added, "I know you all are going to have a great time playing GTA VI while you’re at home for the holidays." Rockstar Games confirmed the title is complete and ready for its November 19 launch.

Nintendo’s Ocarina of Time remake hits 5.2 million

Nintendo announced that more than 5.2 million copies of the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake sold in the first four days after its November 5 release. The sales boost follows the strong performance of Breath of the Wild on the original Switch and supports the upcoming Switch 2 launch.

Microsoft adds ad‑supported Xbox Cloud Gaming

Microsoft rolled out ad‑supported Xbox Cloud Gaming sessions on Friday. Each session lasts 30 minutes and begins with a brief ad break. The free streaming option is now publicly available after a testing phase earlier this year. In September, the company also introduced pay‑as‑you‑go cloud playtime and hour limits for Game Pass subscribers.

Nintendo ends Google and Apple sign‑in

Nintendo will discontinue the ability to sign into Nintendo accounts with Google or Apple credentials on Jan 26. Users must set a password or passkey linked to their email or sign‑in ID. Creating a new account with a Google or Apple login will no longer be possible.

Valve adds performance data to Steam Deck store pages

Valve now shows average framerate information for games on Steam Deck OLED and LCD models. The data appear in a new Compatibility section on each store page. Users can opt in to share anonymous frame‑rate statistics, the company said.

Other industry moves include Skydance Games cutting staff after a recent merger, Sony delaying its Pulse Elevate speakers, and 8BitDo releasing a wired Xbox‑compatible controller. These developments reflect a busy week for the gaming sector.