Just a piece of paper with a download code: physical copies of Grand Theft Auto VI will not include discs

Rockstar Games has shared new details about Grand Theft Auto VI ahead of pre-orders opening on June 25. In addition to information about bonuses for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S owners, the studio confirmed an unexpected detail: physical editions of the game will not contain discs.

According to a message on Rockstar's official website, boxed versions of GTA VI will go on sale on November 12 and will only include a code to download the game. This decision will allow players to download the project in advance before the official release, scheduled for November 19.

While the ability to pre-load via retail copies may seem convenient, the abandonment of physical media will likely disappoint many fans of the series. Especially since previous major Rockstar projects were released on discs: for example, the physical edition of Red Dead Redemption 2 for consoles came on two discs.

Some modern games also use discs only as an activation method and allow data to be installed in advance, unlocking access only on release day. Therefore, Rockstar had the opportunity to release GTA VI on physical media, but the company preferred a different approach. Some players already assume that this decision is not only related to combating leaks and spoilers before launch, but also to the desire to limit the market for used copies.

GTA VI will be released on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.