Rockstar Games recently revealed the launch details for Grand Theft Auto VI. Along with the standard digital release is its physical version, which is confirmed to be a download code in a box. This detail has created growing backlash from the community, including dedicated online retailers.
Video Games Plus recently posted its thoughts about Grand Theft Auto VI’s release. Despite such anticipation for the series, VGP is against selling the physical release of the game. The company emphasized the importance of selling actual physical games for players to truly own, which Grand Theft Auto VI doesn’t provide. It does express interest in selling the game if Rockstar Games would ever sell a copy with a disc, but there’s no official confirmation.
Loot Box Gaming is another retailer that posted a response against the physical release for Grand Theft Auto VI. The company showed disinterest in selling the physical release of GTA VI since its business prioritizes in serving customers preserved games. At the moment, there isn’t much value in selling customers download codes.
Surprisingly, GameFly posted its thoughts regarding sales for actual physical games. Its business revolves around products for its customers to rent and own temporarily, which isn’t possible for Grand Theft Auto VI. The company announced many upcoming games being available in Fall 2026 for its active members to own through rent and purchase, such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Marvel’s Wolverine, Splatoon Raiders, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, and other major AAA physical games. The only major game excluded from the lineup was obviously Grand Theft Auto VI.
Despite the outrage, Rockstar Games seems committed to release its latest GTA title as a digital license. This new release will lock the game out of pre-owned and trade-in sales, forcing the community to buy it full-priced. The studio could support the game post-launch with a new re-release disc version, letting more retailers sell the game to more fans, but more details are needed to confirm the game’s presence in the current market.
