The release of Grand Theft Auto VI is approaching, and some buyers have already managed to get physical copies. However, there is a catch: the game will not be released on discs; the box only contains a code to activate the digital version of the game.
It looks like there may be problems with the code in some cases. A photo of a game box being shone through with a light went viral in the Grand Theft Auto VI waiting community—supposedly allowing the code to be seen. Now players fear their code could be stolen:
A user under the nickname al-Sahaabi tried to reassure players: “you actually can NOT see the code through the box even if you use a pretty strong flashlight.” He tried testing his copy:
Discussion participants suggested that al-Sahaabi’s example is inaccurate because he uses a different flashlight model and directs the light incorrectly.
Then al-Sahaabi posted another photo—shining light through the side of the case. He suggested that (at least in the American version of the game) a special coating may have been used to prevent such theft.
The release of Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles.