Rockstar Games has priced Grand Theft Auto VI at $79.99 ahead of its November 19th launch — but physical versions will only contain a download code in the box, not an actual disc. It’s a decision that has collectors and preservationists worried.
It’s not hard to see why Rockstar went this route. Digital game sales have long overtaken physical — Capcom reported 93% of its games sold digitally last fiscal year. And with the PS5 Pro, Xbox Series S, and Steam Deck all lacking disc drives, the trend is only accelerating.
But digital ownership comes with real tradeoffs. When a game gets delisted from a storefront — like Forza Horizon 4 or Super Mario 3D All-Stars — your only hope is finding a physical copy. If your account gets banned, your digital library might be gone. You can’t resell digital games or hand a disc to a friend.
There’s also the preservation problem. Digital games only exist on the hardware they were downloaded to. When storefronts shut down or devices become obsolete, games can be lost permanently.
Rockstar’s decision may have been partly about preventing leaks — GTA VI has already suffered major breaches — or the game’s file size may simply exceed current disc capacity. But for an installment this big, going digital-only sets a precedent that should concern anyone who values owning their games.
