Take-Two says GTA 6’s upcoming disc-free release fits a business that is over 90% digital
Strauss Zelnick said physical editions will still appear in some cases, but Rockstar's launch boxes will contain download codes instead of discs.
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has defended Grand Theft Auto VI‘s upcoming disc-free release by pointing to a company whose sales are already more than 90% digital. During Take-Two’s latest financial briefing, Zelnick argued that a disc offers little extra to players who already need an internet connection and online registration for many games.
Grand Theft Auto VI remains scheduled for November 19, 2026, according to a recent release-plan update. Rockstar’s boxed launch editions are expected to contain download codes rather than game discs, meaning buyers who choose a retail package will still need to download the game before playing.
An investor asked Zelnick about Sony’s plan to stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games after January 2028. He did not comment directly on Sony’s decision, but he explained why Take-Two sees discs as a poor fit in some cases. With most of the company’s business already handled digitally, Zelnick said downloading a game can seem no different from buying a disc when online registration is already required.
Take-Two will still release some physical editions
Zelnick’s position does not amount to a total rejection of physical games. He said Take-Two and its studios will continue producing physical editions from time to time, comparing their place in games to vinyl records in the music business. The company’s view is that a disc may still make sense for certain products, but not necessarily for every large release.
That leaves GTA 6 in an awkward spot for players who prefer a traditional boxed copy. A package on a store shelf can still offer a physical purchase, but a download code does not provide the same offline installation option as a disc. It also keeps the purchase tied to the platform’s digital storefront and the availability of the required download.
Take-Two is not alone in pointing to digital sales when discussing the future of physical media. Capcom has told investors that 90% of its unit sales are digital and said it is not worried about the physical market becoming smaller. Nintendo’s game-key cards and Sony’s planned disc-production cutoff have also kept the debate active across the industry.
Sales data may explain why publishers are moving toward downloads, but it has not ended the argument over ownership and long-term access. Movements such as Stop Killing Games continue to focus on those concerns, especially when a physical-looking product contains only a code. GTA 6 will give that debate one of its highest-profile tests when it launches.
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Grand Theft Auto VI
Developed by Rockstar Games
Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.
- Genre Shooter, Racing, Adventure
- Platforms Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5
- Perspective First person, Third person
- Modes Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
- Release November 19, 2026
- Publisher Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive
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Age Rating
