Rockstar says boxed GTA VI copies will ship without a disc
Rockstar Games says Grand Theft Auto VI will cost $79.99 and its boxed editions will contain download codes instead of discs.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Rockstar Games has set a $79.99 price for Grand Theft Auto VI and said its boxed versions will not include a game disc. According to Rockstar’s preorder announcement, retail copies will come with a download code inside the package ahead of the game’s Nov. 19 launch.
The decision means buyers who choose a store shelf copy will still need to redeem and download the game digitally. For players who buy boxed games to keep a disc, lend it, resell it or install from physical media, Rockstar’s plan makes the retail package closer to a digital purchase with packaging.
The Verge reported that the move is notable because of the scale of the Grand Theft Auto franchise and the attention around its next release. A code-in-box approach for a major launch could give other publishers more cover to reduce or drop discs from retail editions, The Verge said.
Digital sales already dominate
The shift comes as game sales have moved heavily toward downloads. Capcom said in its latest full-year materials that 93 percent of its game sales in the last fiscal year were digital, and the company said it expects that share to rise in the next fiscal year.
Hardware choices have also pushed players toward downloads. The Verge noted that devices such as the PlayStation Pro, Xbox Series S and Steam Machine do not include a disc drive, limiting the role of physical media for buyers of those systems.
Digital purchases have clear conveniences. The Verge pointed to the ability to begin downloads without swapping media, keep many games on one drive and buy from online stores that do not run out of stock. It also noted that digital storefronts such as Steam and the PlayStation Store often run sales.
Those benefits sit beside trade-offs for people who value physical ownership. A retail box with only a code does not provide the same physical copy that disc buyers expect, even if it is sold through the same store channels and packaged like a traditional release.
Rockstar’s announcement gives GTA VI two headline details at once: a premium $79.99 price and a retail format that depends on a download. For one of the industry’s most closely watched games, the format choice shows how far major publishers are willing to move away from discs even when they still sell boxes.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.