You can’t buy a gaming console in India right now, and GTA VI is only part of the reason

If you’ve been trying to buy a gaming console in India lately, you’ve probably run into the same wall retailers are describing everywhere: plenty of interest, almost nothing on the shelves. Enquiries for gaming consoles have surged in the run-up to the anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI) later this year, but retailers say that demand simply isn’t converting into sales.

“There is demand, but no stock. Even if we arrange a piece, it comes at a higher price and not at MRP,” said a staff member at one gaming store, who receives four to five calls a day from customers checking availability. Another authorised retailer described the shortage as a national problem: “It is not just Mangaluru, there is practically zero stock across India. The last batch of around 18 units we received was sold out within a day.”

Part of the squeeze traces back to a price hike from a console manufacturer, whose global prices have already been revised upward. Retailers expect that increase to hit Indian pricing soon, with one dealer predicting “the next restock will likely come at a higher price” — a prospect that’s already generating consumer hesitation and online backlash. Meanwhile, Yashas from Smart Hub Enterprises said enquiries have held steady for two to three months, with some stores fielding up to 10 calls a day even as stock remains scarce.

Unable to find consoles, some buyers are turning to gaming PCs instead, driving interest in high-end graphics cards and custom setups. But even that alternative has limits — Nagendra Prabhu of Suprabhata Computers said surging prices for RAM, SSDs and processors over the past six months have made PC building less appealing too, leaving many customers to enquire without following through on a purchase.