The Leaked GTA V PS4 Bundle That Saved Sony's Holiday Season

Back in 2014, the gaming world was on edge as the holiday season approached. Sony's PlayStation 4 had been selling well, but it lacked a huge exclusive to carry it through the frantic shopping days. Microsoft's Xbox One was cutting its price and flexing its muscle with Halo: The Master Chief Collection, while Nintendo’s Wii U still had a loyal fanbase. Everyone wondered how Sony would respond—and then a retail leak from a supermarket chain gave the answer away.

It was early November, and Meijer, a retailer based in the Midwest, accidentally spoiled the surprise. A sneak peek of their upcoming Black Friday circular surfaced online, revealing a PlayStation 4 bundle no one had officially announced. The bundle included a standard black PS4, a copy of Grand Theft Auto V, and a copy of The Last of Us Remastered, all for $399.99. That was the same price as a standalone PS4 at the time. Gaming forums and subreddits exploded. The image of the ad spread like wildfire.

Before this leak, Sony and Rockstar had only confirmed a GTA V PS4 bundle for Japan and Europe. North American gamers were left in suspense, wondering if they would miss out on the greatest deal of the year. The Meijer ad changed everything. It showed a second bundle too—a Family Bundle with LittleBigPlanet 3 and LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham—which hinted Sony was going all-in on value bundles. For many, however, the real headline was the chance to own a PS4 with the best-selling game of all time and one of the most critically acclaimed remasters ever made, without spending an extra dime.

Retail leaks were nothing new in 2014, but they were often inaccurate. This one, though, had the ring of truth. The circular looked professionally designed, complete with Sony’s official press images. As the hours ticked by, major gaming outlets ran with the story, and Sony and Rockstar remained silent—which only fuelled speculation that the leak was genuine. As it turned out, North American shoppers did get exactly that bundle on Black Friday. The "leak" was, in fact, an early reveal.

Looking back from 2026, that moment seems almost quaint. Today, leaks happen almost daily through data miners, retail databases, and accidental livestreams. But back then, a grainy scan of a store flyer was enough to set the gaming community ablaze. The Grand Theft Auto V PS4 bundle didn't just give North American players a fantastic deal—it may have changed the momentum of the entire console generation.

Sony entered the 2014 holiday season without a blockbuster exclusive. Bloodborne wasn't coming until March, and Uncharted 4 was still far away. Microsoft had just dropped the Xbox One's price to $349 and was bundling Assassin's Creed Unity. Nintendo was offering Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Sony’s answer was to tie its console to the cultural phenomenon that was Grand Theft Auto V. The game had already shattered sales records on PS3 and Xbox 360, but the PS4 version brought a huge graphical overhaul, a new first-person mode, and full online functionality for GTA Online. Pairing it with The Last of Us Remastered—a game that still looked breathtaking on the new hardware—made the bundle impossible to resist.

Sales figures from that holiday season told the story clearly. The PS4 extended its lead over the Xbox One, and by January 2015 Sony announced it had sold over 20.2 million units worldwide. Industry analysts credited the aggressive bundle strategy, and the GTA V bundle specifically, for a big chunk of those December sales. Rockstar’s juggernaut became a de facto system seller for Sony even though it was a multiplatform title. It was a masterclass in how to win a holiday battle without a traditional first-party exclusive.

From the vantage point of 2026, where Grand Theft Auto V has been ported to three console generations and GTA Online continues to print money, it’s easy to forget how pivotal that 2014 PS4 re-release was. The game found an entirely new audience on PS4, and the bundle introduced a generation of gamers to Los Santos. Even now, with GTA VI having finally arrived and breaking its own records, players remember that Black Friday bundle as the moment the PS4 became an unstoppable force.

The leak itself is a nostalgic artifact. It reminds us of a time when retail circulars were the primary source of holiday deal intel, and a simple camera phone shot could send shockwaves through the industry. Meijer likely never intended to be part of gaming history, but for a few days in November 2014, it was the most important name on the lips of every PlayStation fan. And the bundle? It went on to become one of the most sought-after holiday purchases of the decade, cementing Grand Theft Auto V’s legacy and securing Sony’s throne for years to come. 😎