Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders recently went live, but the excitement came with one frustrating catch. The so-called physical edition of the game will not include a disc. Instead, buyers will get a box with cover art and a download code inside.
That decision immediately caused backlash online, especially among collectors who still care about owning games on disc. For a while, there was some hope that this would only be temporary. Reports suggested that Rockstar could release a proper disc version of GTA 6 in December 2026, giving physical media fans something to wait for.
A disc release may not be coming
That hope now looks much weaker. According to a new report from The Hollywood Reporter, Rockstar currently has no plans to print GTA 6 discs, either at launch or months later. The confusion appears to have come from wording around a “physical copy,” which reportedly refers to the already announced code-in-a-case version, not a real disc.
For collectors, that is a disappointing outcome. GTA 6 is not a small annual release that people will forget in a few months. It is one of the most anticipated games ever, arriving after more than a decade of waiting since GTA 5. For many fans, owning a proper boxed copy of a game like this would have had real collector value.
Instead, buyers paying $80 to $100 may get a plastic case with artwork and a code sitting where the Blu-ray disc should have been. That feels especially rough for a game with this much cultural weight behind it.
Rockstar can afford the disc
Some fans have argued that skipping discs helps Rockstar reduce leaks and limit resale. That logic is easy enough to understand, especially for a game as closely watched as GTA 6. But it still does not make the decision feel any better for players who value physical media.
Rockstar is not exactly struggling to fund this launch. Unconfirmed reports claim GTA 6 has already reached 39 million pre-orders and around $3 billion in revenue. Even if those numbers are treated cautiously, GTA 6 is clearly heading toward a massive commercial debut.
A code in a case may be enough for retailers and publishers, but it is unlikely to satisfy collectors. For a game as big as GTA 6, many fans wanted something more permanent than a download slip.