Renting a PlayStation instead of buying one: worth it for a single game?
A blockbuster like GTA 6 is coming. You want the story, you want to explore the open world, nothing more. Buying a whole console for one game starts to feel wrong fast, especially if you know you'll barely touch it afterward.
Then there's the current market price: top models and bundles of the PS5 now go for up to €1,299 on the new-buy market (as of Sep 15, 2026). You don't have to commit to a console for one game. You just rent the PlayStation month to month.
Play GTA 6 on PlayStation, flexibly
At Grover, you can pick the PS5 Slim, the PS5 Digital Edition, or the PS5 Pro, and you only rent it for as long as you actually use it.
Even the boxed version of GTA 6 ships without an actual disc, Rockstar confirmed it comes with a download code only. For a one-month rental, a disc-drive PS5 makes little sense anyway, the Digital Edition covers you completely. It's cheaper to rent, and you won't have to deal with a disc at all.
PS5 or PS5 Pro: what's the difference for GTA 6?
The PS5 Pro brings more processing power, better ray tracing, and PSSR for sharper images. According to reports not yet officially confirmed by Rockstar, GTA 6 will still run at around 30 frames per second on the Pro at a higher resolution rather than 60fps, the game is simply that demanding.
For the story, that barely matters. A standard PS5 runs GTA 6 smoothly enough, the Pro's advantage sits in image sharpness and detail, not in noticeably more speed.
What about Xbox players?
GTA 6 launches on Xbox Series X|S on the same day, November 19, 2026, so you're not locked into PlayStation. At Grover, you can rent an Xbox Series X or Series S just as easily as a PS5.
The gap between the two Xbox models is bigger than between the PS5 and PS5 Pro. Rockstar hasn't published technical specifics, but based on reports so far and past experience with other big open-world titles, the Series S will likely get a lower resolution, little or no ray tracing, and stay at 30fps. Story, map, and content should be identical on both, only the visuals get scaled back.
For a single playthrough, the cheaper Series S is more than enough. The Series X is worth it mainly if image quality matters more to you than price.
Instead of paying a high purchase price upfront or locking into a multi-year installment plan, you pay a monthly rental. Cancel anytime. That gets you:
Rent for as long as you want, cancel the moment you're done.
Price hikes on new consoles don't touch you, you keep paying your agreed rate.
Send the console back once the credits roll, no resale hassle, no value loss.
Want the next console highlight? Just rent whatever model is current then.
Already have a powerful PC? You still don't have to wait
GTA 6 launches November 19, 2026 first on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only, no PC version has been announced. GTA 5's PC version took about a year and a half to arrive after console launch. If you don't want to wait that long, a console is your only option, but you don't have to buy one.
Just rent a PS5 for launch month, play GTA 6 on the big screen, and send the console back afterward, whether you're done or still waiting on the PC version. Your PC stays your main setup for everything else.
The practical scenario: rent, play through, send back
Pick your console model, sign up for the monthly, cancel-anytime plan, and get the package delivered to your door. You buy the game itself separately, digital or on disc.
If a month covers the main story and a handful of side missions, you start the return right after. Need more time? You don't have to do anything, the rental auto-renews for another month as long as you keep the console.
Before the console goes back, it gets reset. For native PS5 games like GTA 6, there's no free USB backup option, Sony removed that for PS5 save data. Without active PlayStation Plus, your save is gone for good after the reset. Want to keep your progress beyond the rental period? You'll need at least the cheapest PS Plus tier with cloud storage, and if you cancel that later, you're locked out of the save until you pay again.
How long does a release marathon actually take?
A month covers the main story on most current PS5 games, and a lot more on some. A few reference points:
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
about 17 hours for the main story, roughly 35 hours with every side mission.
God of War Ragnarök
25 to 30 hours for the main story, 40 to 50 hours with side content and collectibles.
Horizon Forbidden West
about 20 hours for the main story, 50 to 60 hours with side quests, 100+ hours for 100% completion.
GTA 5
as a reference point for GTA 6: 30 to 32 hours for the main story, 70 to 90 hours with every side mission and collectible.
Cyberpunk 2077
15 to 24 hours for the main story, 45 to 50 hours with the key side quests, 80 to 100 hours for 100% completion. The Phantom Liberty expansion adds another 15 to 30 hours.
The Witcher 3
over 52 hours for the main story, over 105 hours with side quests, almost 180 hours for 100% completion. Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine together add another 25 to 60 hours.
Skyrim
30 to 35 hours for the main story, 60 to 100 hours with most of the side content, over 200 hours for 100% completion.
GTA 6 itself has no official playtime numbers yet, it launches November 19, 2026. Using GTA 5 as a benchmark, a month easily covers the story and a good chunk of side content.
For Skyrim or The Witcher 3, a completionist run blows past several rental months easily. The rental just auto-renews in that case, you only pay for as long as you're actually still playing.
Make your next gaming project flexible
Monthly rental is the alternative to buying when you want to use tech without committing long-term. You skip the high upfront cost and keep control over your spending.
Check out our PlayStation consoles at Grover and find the right model for your next release.