{"id":2010361,"date":"2026-06-25T13:02:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T10:02:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2010361"},"modified":"2026-06-25T13:02:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T10:02:19","slug":"no-gta-6-disc-decision-will-make-some-gamers-angry-but-analysts-say-commercially-it-just-makes-sense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2010361","title":{"rendered":"No GTA 6 Disc Decision Will Make Some Gamers Angry, but Analysts Say &#8216;Commercially It Just Makes Sense&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-cy=\"article-content\" class=\"jsx-2870106660 article-content page-0\">\n<section data-cy=\"article-subtitle\" class=\"article jsx-3932497636 article-section jsx-862658659 news\" data-autopogo=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">With <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/grand-theft-auto-vi\">Grand Theft Auto 6<\/a>, arguably the biggest and most mass market game of the generation, skipping a disc-based launch \u2014 is physical media now dead?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The rise of digital as the most common form of game ownership began long ago, but certain mass market titles \u2014 the Call of Dutys, the FIFAs of the world \u2014 have resisted that trend to some degree. These are games played by an enormous audience who still might look for a copy in their local entertainment outlet, or expect to pick it up at a superstore alongside their grocery shopping. These are games like GTA.<\/p>\n<div id=\"238641\">\n<div class=\"jsx-3980863763 catalog-wrapper\"><span data-cy=\"productcard-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"238641\" data-cy=\"solo-product-card\" class=\"solo-product SoloProduct_solo-product__r2_WP\">\n<div class=\"card jsx-722342313 jsx-3341285356 product-card SoloProduct_product-card__JSk8u\">\n<div class=\"product-thumbnail jsx-2285132617 SoloProduct_image__vqG4e\"><a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/zj3MEe?object_uuid=14f79f98-b82f-490e-94ee-9498f1b3f90d&amp;t=article\" title=\"Grand Theft Auto 6\" class=\"jsx-4218469134 product-image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-1-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Grand Theft Auto 6\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-1809694635 jsx-2338608387 expand\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/06\/24\/official-cover-art-square-1782298388126.jpg?width=220&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"product-badge jsx-3056253127 jsx-1233459104\">\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 jsx-957202555 small\">Preorders Are Live<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"solo-product-name\" class=\"name SoloProduct_name__s0XeA\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2827240024 name balanced\">Grand Theft Auto 6<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button jsx-3381835873 jsx-3347269829 icon-button catalog-upvote SoloProduct_catalog-upvote__FWsVx centered disabled\" disabled type=\"button\" title=\"Vote\" aria-label=\"Vote\" data-cy=\"catalog-upvote\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-rating-like jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-rating-like\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">106<\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider SoloProduct_divider__dWiDk jsx-71571950\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"vendor SoloProduct_vendor__Znmjy\" data-cy=\"vendor\"><a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/zj3MEe?object_uuid=14f79f98-b82f-490e-94ee-9498f1b3f90d&amp;t=article\" class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button jsx-3381835873 button--vendor jsx-1792814278 jsx-4198390806 contained full-width small\" data-cy=\"vendor-link-btn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 vendor-text small\" data-cy=\"vendor-text-full-price\">$79.97<!-- --> at <!-- -->Amazon<\/span><span class=\"ign-icon icon-top-right-arrow jsx-2750866048 jsx-4173866675\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-top-right-arrow\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/9lxMEd?object_uuid=14f79f98-b82f-490e-94ee-9498f1b3f90d&amp;t=article\" class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--secondary jsx-3381835873 button--vendor jsx-1792814278 contained full-width small\" data-cy=\"vendor-link-btn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 vendor-text small\" data-cy=\"vendor-text-full-price\">$79.99<!-- --> at <!-- -->Walmart<\/span><span class=\"ign-icon icon-top-right-arrow jsx-2750866048 jsx-4173866675\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-top-right-arrow\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/z6xqk2?object_uuid=14f79f98-b82f-490e-94ee-9498f1b3f90d&amp;t=article\" class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--secondary jsx-3381835873 button--vendor jsx-1792814278 contained full-width small\" data-cy=\"vendor-link-btn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 vendor-text small\" data-cy=\"vendor-text-full-price\">$79.99<!-- --> at <!-- -->Best Buy<\/span><span class=\"ign-icon icon-top-right-arrow jsx-2750866048 jsx-4173866675\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-top-right-arrow\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>{&#8220;@context&#8221;:&#8221;http:\/\/schema.org\/&#8221;,&#8221;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Product&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;Grand Theft Auto 6&#8243;,&#8221;image&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/06\/24\/official-cover-art-square-1782298388126.jpg&#8221;,&#8221;offers&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Offer&#8221;,&#8221;priceCurrency&#8221;:&#8221;USD&#8221;,&#8221;price&#8221;:79.97,&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/zdcs.link\/zj3MEe&#8221;,&#8221;seller&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Organization&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;Amazon&#8221;}}}<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Of course, GTA 6 will still have a physical version, but only a digital download code printed inside. This means that anyone who buys GTA 6 in a box will still need an internet connection, and won&#8217;t be able to start playing early. It also means you won&#8217;t be able to trade in the game or sell it on to someone else.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Will Rockstar killing off disc-based copies of GTA 6 prompt other video game publishers to do the same? Or should we be thinking about this the other way around \u2014 that Rockstar is simply reacting to the existing state of the industry, where disc-based sales are in the minority when compared to digital downloads? IGN surveyed a range of top industry analysts for their thoughts on the move \u2014 and where video games go next.<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" style=\"display:none\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">GTA 6 Ultimate Edition Screenshots<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Ultimate Edition content screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Ultimate Edition content screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 51 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Ultimate Edition content screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Ultimate Edition content screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Ultimate Edition content screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Ultimate Edition content screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;The decline in physical video game spending has been ongoing for more than a dozen years at this point,&#8221; Circana senior director and analyst Mat Piscatella began, laying out how dominant digital downloads are now. &#8220;Both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series are now heavily weighted towards digital distribution (Xbox Series more so than PlayStation 5), with that digital shift having continued to grow over time. I see this as just another step in a trend that has been ongoing since the early 2010s.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;There is clearly a group of players that would prefer owning physical media with the game being included on disc. [But] in the U.S. as of the end of May 2026, more than half of all Xbox Series consoles sold to date do not include a physical media drive, with PlayStation 5 digital hardware SKUs accounting for just over a quarter of all PS5 console sales to date.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;While digital accounts for the majority of sales, the remaining 20% still accounted for 70 million physical disc games sold on PlayStation last year (although this figure is slightly inflated by bundled software),&#8221; added Daniel Ahmad, director of research and insights at Niko Partners, who suggested that other publishers were likely already considering dropping discs. <\/p>\n<div class=\"display-title jsx-684634384 jsx-2659527929 quote-container\" data-cy=\"quoteBox\">&#8220;There&#8217;s a difference between having a &#8216;retail presence&#8217; and having a &#8216;physical disc sold at retail&#8217;&#8230;&#8221;<span class=\"stack jsx-2959124702 jsx-326843967\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-428691023\"><\/div>\n<p><span>\u201c<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Having a retail presence is still important, especially for large games with broad appeal,&#8221; Ahmad continued. &#8220;However, there&#8217;s a difference between having a &#8216;retail presence&#8217; and having a &#8216;physical disc sold at retail.&#8217; Going forward, given increased digital adoption and push for higher margins, more publishers will conclude they only need the former.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Having a code instead of a disc is becoming increasingly commonplace,&#8221; agreed Piers Harding-Rolls, games industry analyst at Ampere Analysis. &#8220;This just follows an existing trend rather than necessarily prompting publishers to follow Rockstar\u2019s approach.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Analysts that IGN spoke to pointed to the various likely motivations behind Rockstar&#8217;s move that will be equally attractive to other publishers as well. Most obvious is the fact this decision removes the cost of manufacturing a disc (or several, if the game required a large enough installation). So, each copy of the game is cheaper to manufacture, with more of its revenue freed up as profit. &#8220;Removing the disc from the box is indeed a cost saving measure for publishers,&#8221; Ahmad noted, &#8220;doubly so for a game like Grand Theft Auto 6 that may need to ship on multiple discs.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" style=\"display:none\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">GTA 6 Vintage Vice City Pack Screenshots<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Vintage Vice City Pack screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Vintage Vice City Pack screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 12 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Vintage Vice City Pack screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Vintage Vice City Pack screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Vintage Vice City Pack screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Vintage Vice City Pack screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Beyond this, the ability to control the game&#8217;s price (and not get undercut by second-hand sales) is also a crucial factor, Rhys Elliot, head of market analysis at Alinea Analytics told IGN. Selling a code in a box ensures Rockstar is &#8220;killing the second-hand market,&#8221; Elliot said, and able to fully control when and where it is eventually sold at a discount.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;The whole value proposition of a physical disc, from the player&#8217;s side, is the pre-owned and rental markets: more control over your library, the ability to sell a game on or rent it cheaply,&#8221; Elliot said. &#8220;But more control for consumers means less control for the publisher. A disc can be resold or rented a hundred times, and Rockstar earns nothing after that first sale. A code-in-box can&#8217;t be resold or rented, which converts all of that into either a fresh full-price sale or no play at all, both of which suit Rockstar far better than a thriving used market. <\/p>\n<div class=\"display-title jsx-684634384 jsx-2659527929 quote-container\" data-cy=\"quoteBox\">&#8220;More control for consumers means less control for the publisher&#8230;&#8221;<span class=\"stack jsx-2959124702 jsx-326843967\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-428691023\"><\/div>\n<p><span>\u201c<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;The bigger prize hiding inside that, though, is price control. Physical pricing is more elastic and far more beholden to supply and demand, which is why pre-owned discs routinely undercut PlayStation&#8217;s and Xbox&#8217;s digital stores. As long as cheap second-hand copies exist, they set a price floor Rockstar can&#8217;t control and they give every player a permanent &#8216;just wait and buy it used&#8217; option. Remove the disc and Rockstar and the platforms own the entire price curve, including how high they hold the price and how slowly they ever discount it. That ties directly into the pricing discipline we&#8217;ve seen elsewhere, holding a price for months with minimal discounting only works if there&#8217;s no used market quietly undercutting you. Rockstar wants to set its own prices, and disc-less is how you get there.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Having no physical discs loaded with game data will also help with &#8220;Rockstar&#8217;s near-pathological secrecy&#8221; Elliot continued, ensuring game data only unlocks at launch, meaning no damaging early leaks from copies &#8220;lost off the back of a truck.&#8221; GTA 6 has already seen one major pre-launch leak, and with fans poring over every last snippet of information about the game, it&#8217;s easy to see why Rockstar also wants to keep control over every last detail.<\/p>\n<p><span data-cy=\"poll-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<section class=\"box-wrapper jsx-2673806401\">\n<div class=\"card jsx-1339469126 jsx-1355461925 box jsx-2627838217 poll-content-block\" data-cy=\"poll-content-block\">\n<fieldset class=\"answers jsx-332304107\" role=\"radiogroup\" aria-labelledby=\"poll-question\">\n<legend class=\"stack jsx-2624643483 jsx-4192417768\"><span class=\"stack jsx-3547261442\"><\/p>\n<h2 data-cy=\"poll-question\" class=\"title2 jsx-1903782357 jsx-1377259516 headline\" id=\"poll-question\">Which Edition of GTA 6 Will You Buy?<\/h2>\n<p><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-4218469134 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-1-1 jsx-3010959690 jsx-2338608387\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/legend>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId67345\" id=\"answerId67345-label\"><span class=\"label\">Standard Edition<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer highlight\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId67346\" id=\"answerId67346-label\"><span class=\"label\">Ultimate Edition<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1945348876\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/fieldset>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2624643483 jsx-4255654680 poll-controls\"><button class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-2267841559 contained disabled full-width large\" disabled type=\"submit\" data-cy=\"poll-answer-btn\">Answer<\/button><button class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button jsx-3381835873 jsx-1624977611 nav next-button small\" title=\"See Results\" aria-label=\"See Results\" data-cy=\"see-results-btn\"><span style=\"white-space:nowrap;overflow:hidden;text-align:right\">See Results<\/span><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-4173866675\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" aria-label=\"See Results\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/button><\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Commercially it just makes sense in terms of cost of goods to go digital code only in a physical case \u2013 it\u2019s the best of both worlds to an extent \u2013 get exposure to the retail buyer but at a lower cost,&#8221; Harding-Rolls affirmed. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure that will be disappointing for some players, but it&#8217;s possible there will be a Collector&#8217;s Edition to come nearer to launch.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Joost van Dreunen, a video game industry researcher and professor at the NYU Stern School of Business, suggested that Rockstar would eventually launch a more expansive physical offering in the form of a Collector&#8217;s Edition \u2014 though whether this also included a disc is another matter. Many Collector&#8217;s Editions now don&#8217;t include a copy of the game at all, allowing them to be purchased separately without the need to worry about manufacturing different versions with discs for each platform.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Take-Two excels at upselling its fanbase and I have no doubt it will soon also announce a Collector&#8217;s Edition for GTA 6 that costs significantly more,&#8221; van Dreunen said. &#8220;The same cohort of adults spending thousands on LEGO sets, custom PC rigs, and in-person experiences will have no trouble spending on a franchise that arguably defined their generation. Physical expressions will be absolutely central to that.&#8221; Whether those physical versions still contain a disc, though, seems less likely than ever.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Yesterday, we polled analysts on <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/has-80-gta-6-opened-the-door-to-more-expensive-games-analysts-respond\">whether GTA 6&#8217;s $80 price point had opened the door to more expensive games<\/a><a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/has-80-gta-6-opened-the-door-to-more-expensive-games-analysts-respond\"> \u2014 here&#8217;s what they said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Tom Phillips is IGN&#8217;s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/tomphillipseg.bsky.social\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@tomphillipseg.bsky.social<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-1475529924\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 adunit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 bobble bobble-1 pogocnt pg-article\">\n<div data-mix-name=\"secondaryMedrec\" data-pos=\"1\" data-pogo-hide=\"1\" class=\"jsx-343126785 pogo-slot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">With <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/grand-theft-auto-vi\">Grand Theft Auto 6<\/a>, arguably the biggest and most mass market game of the generation, skipping a disc-based launch \u2014 is physical media now dead?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The rise of digital as the most common form of game ownership began long ago, but certain mass market titles \u2014 the Call of Dutys, the FIFAs of the world \u2014 have resisted that trend to some degree. These are games played by an enormous audience who still might look for a copy in their local entertainment outlet, or expect to pick it up at a superstore alongside their grocery shopping. These are games like GTA.<\/p>\n<div id=\"238641\">\n<div class=\"jsx-3980863763 catalog-wrapper\"><span data-cy=\"productcard-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"238641\" data-cy=\"solo-product-card\" class=\"solo-product SoloProduct_solo-product__r2_WP\">\n<div class=\"card jsx-722342313 jsx-3341285356 product-card SoloProduct_product-card__JSk8u\">\n<div class=\"product-thumbnail jsx-2285132617 SoloProduct_image__vqG4e\"><a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/zj3MEe?object_uuid=14f79f98-b82f-490e-94ee-9498f1b3f90d&amp;t=article\" title=\"Grand Theft Auto 6\" class=\"jsx-4218469134 product-image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-1-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Grand Theft Auto 6\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-1809694635 jsx-2338608387 expand\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/06\/24\/official-cover-art-square-1782298388126.jpg?width=220&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"product-badge jsx-3056253127 jsx-1233459104\">\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 jsx-957202555 small\">Preorders Are Live<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"solo-product-name\" class=\"name SoloProduct_name__s0XeA\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2827240024 name balanced\">Grand Theft Auto 6<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button jsx-3381835873 jsx-3347269829 icon-button catalog-upvote SoloProduct_catalog-upvote__FWsVx centered disabled\" disabled type=\"button\" title=\"Vote\" aria-label=\"Vote\" data-cy=\"catalog-upvote\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-rating-like jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-rating-like\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">106<\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider SoloProduct_divider__dWiDk jsx-71571950\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"vendor SoloProduct_vendor__Znmjy\" data-cy=\"vendor\"><a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/zj3MEe?object_uuid=14f79f98-b82f-490e-94ee-9498f1b3f90d&amp;t=article\" class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button jsx-3381835873 button--vendor jsx-1792814278 jsx-4198390806 contained full-width small\" data-cy=\"vendor-link-btn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 vendor-text small\" data-cy=\"vendor-text-full-price\">$79.97<!-- --> at <!-- -->Amazon<\/span><span class=\"ign-icon icon-top-right-arrow jsx-2750866048 jsx-4173866675\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-top-right-arrow\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/9lxMEd?object_uuid=14f79f98-b82f-490e-94ee-9498f1b3f90d&amp;t=article\" class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--secondary jsx-3381835873 button--vendor jsx-1792814278 contained full-width small\" data-cy=\"vendor-link-btn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 vendor-text small\" data-cy=\"vendor-text-full-price\">$79.99<!-- --> at <!-- -->Walmart<\/span><span class=\"ign-icon icon-top-right-arrow jsx-2750866048 jsx-4173866675\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-top-right-arrow\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/z6xqk2?object_uuid=14f79f98-b82f-490e-94ee-9498f1b3f90d&amp;t=article\" class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--secondary jsx-3381835873 button--vendor jsx-1792814278 contained full-width small\" data-cy=\"vendor-link-btn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 vendor-text small\" data-cy=\"vendor-text-full-price\">$79.99<!-- --> at <!-- -->Best Buy<\/span><span class=\"ign-icon icon-top-right-arrow jsx-2750866048 jsx-4173866675\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-top-right-arrow\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>{&#8220;@context&#8221;:&#8221;http:\/\/schema.org\/&#8221;,&#8221;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Product&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;Grand Theft Auto 6&#8243;,&#8221;image&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/06\/24\/official-cover-art-square-1782298388126.jpg&#8221;,&#8221;offers&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Offer&#8221;,&#8221;priceCurrency&#8221;:&#8221;USD&#8221;,&#8221;price&#8221;:79.97,&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/zdcs.link\/zj3MEe&#8221;,&#8221;seller&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Organization&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;Amazon&#8221;}}}<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Of course, GTA 6 will still have a physical version, but only a digital download code printed inside. This means that anyone who buys GTA 6 in a box will still need an internet connection, and won&#8217;t be able to start playing early. It also means you won&#8217;t be able to trade in the game or sell it on to someone else.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Will Rockstar killing off disc-based copies of GTA 6 prompt other video game publishers to do the same? Or should we be thinking about this the other way around \u2014 that Rockstar is simply reacting to the existing state of the industry, where disc-based sales are in the minority when compared to digital downloads? IGN surveyed a range of top industry analysts for their thoughts on the move \u2014 and where video games go next.<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" style=\"display:none\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">GTA 6 Ultimate Edition Screenshots<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Ultimate Edition content screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Ultimate Edition content screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 51 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Ultimate Edition content screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Ultimate Edition content screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Ultimate Edition content screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Ultimate Edition content screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;The decline in physical video game spending has been ongoing for more than a dozen years at this point,&#8221; Circana senior director and analyst Mat Piscatella began, laying out how dominant digital downloads are now. &#8220;Both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series are now heavily weighted towards digital distribution (Xbox Series more so than PlayStation 5), with that digital shift having continued to grow over time. I see this as just another step in a trend that has been ongoing since the early 2010s.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;There is clearly a group of players that would prefer owning physical media with the game being included on disc. [But] in the U.S. as of the end of May 2026, more than half of all Xbox Series consoles sold to date do not include a physical media drive, with PlayStation 5 digital hardware SKUs accounting for just over a quarter of all PS5 console sales to date.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;While digital accounts for the majority of sales, the remaining 20% still accounted for 70 million physical disc games sold on PlayStation last year (although this figure is slightly inflated by bundled software),&#8221; added Daniel Ahmad, director of research and insights at Niko Partners, who suggested that other publishers were likely already considering dropping discs. <\/p>\n<div class=\"display-title jsx-684634384 jsx-2659527929 quote-container\" data-cy=\"quoteBox\">&#8220;There&#8217;s a difference between having a &#8216;retail presence&#8217; and having a &#8216;physical disc sold at retail&#8217;&#8230;&#8221;<span class=\"stack jsx-2959124702 jsx-326843967\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-428691023\"><\/div>\n<p><span>\u201c<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Having a retail presence is still important, especially for large games with broad appeal,&#8221; Ahmad continued. &#8220;However, there&#8217;s a difference between having a &#8216;retail presence&#8217; and having a &#8216;physical disc sold at retail.&#8217; Going forward, given increased digital adoption and push for higher margins, more publishers will conclude they only need the former.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Having a code instead of a disc is becoming increasingly commonplace,&#8221; agreed Piers Harding-Rolls, games industry analyst at Ampere Analysis. &#8220;This just follows an existing trend rather than necessarily prompting publishers to follow Rockstar\u2019s approach.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Analysts that IGN spoke to pointed to the various likely motivations behind Rockstar&#8217;s move that will be equally attractive to other publishers as well. Most obvious is the fact this decision removes the cost of manufacturing a disc (or several, if the game required a large enough installation). So, each copy of the game is cheaper to manufacture, with more of its revenue freed up as profit. &#8220;Removing the disc from the box is indeed a cost saving measure for publishers,&#8221; Ahmad noted, &#8220;doubly so for a game like Grand Theft Auto 6 that may need to ship on multiple discs.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" style=\"display:none\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">GTA 6 Vintage Vice City Pack Screenshots<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Vintage Vice City Pack screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Vintage Vice City Pack screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 12 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Vintage Vice City Pack screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Vintage Vice City Pack screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Vintage Vice City Pack screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GTA 6 Vintage Vice City Pack screenshots.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Beyond this, the ability to control the game&#8217;s price (and not get undercut by second-hand sales) is also a crucial factor, Rhys Elliot, head of market analysis at Alinea Analytics told IGN. Selling a code in a box ensures Rockstar is &#8220;killing the second-hand market,&#8221; Elliot said, and able to fully control when and where it is eventually sold at a discount.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;The whole value proposition of a physical disc, from the player&#8217;s side, is the pre-owned and rental markets: more control over your library, the ability to sell a game on or rent it cheaply,&#8221; Elliot said. &#8220;But more control for consumers means less control for the publisher. A disc can be resold or rented a hundred times, and Rockstar earns nothing after that first sale. A code-in-box can&#8217;t be resold or rented, which converts all of that into either a fresh full-price sale or no play at all, both of which suit Rockstar far better than a thriving used market. <\/p>\n<div class=\"display-title jsx-684634384 jsx-2659527929 quote-container\" data-cy=\"quoteBox\">&#8220;More control for consumers means less control for the publisher&#8230;&#8221;<span class=\"stack jsx-2959124702 jsx-326843967\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-428691023\"><\/div>\n<p><span>\u201c<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;The bigger prize hiding inside that, though, is price control. Physical pricing is more elastic and far more beholden to supply and demand, which is why pre-owned discs routinely undercut PlayStation&#8217;s and Xbox&#8217;s digital stores. As long as cheap second-hand copies exist, they set a price floor Rockstar can&#8217;t control and they give every player a permanent &#8216;just wait and buy it used&#8217; option. Remove the disc and Rockstar and the platforms own the entire price curve, including how high they hold the price and how slowly they ever discount it. That ties directly into the pricing discipline we&#8217;ve seen elsewhere, holding a price for months with minimal discounting only works if there&#8217;s no used market quietly undercutting you. Rockstar wants to set its own prices, and disc-less is how you get there.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Having no physical discs loaded with game data will also help with &#8220;Rockstar&#8217;s near-pathological secrecy&#8221; Elliot continued, ensuring game data only unlocks at launch, meaning no damaging early leaks from copies &#8220;lost off the back of a truck.&#8221; GTA 6 has already seen one major pre-launch leak, and with fans poring over every last snippet of information about the game, it&#8217;s easy to see why Rockstar also wants to keep control over every last detail.<\/p>\n<p><span data-cy=\"poll-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<section class=\"box-wrapper jsx-2673806401\">\n<div class=\"card jsx-1339469126 jsx-1355461925 box jsx-2627838217 poll-content-block\" data-cy=\"poll-content-block\">\n<fieldset class=\"answers jsx-332304107\" role=\"radiogroup\" aria-labelledby=\"poll-question\">\n<legend class=\"stack jsx-2624643483 jsx-4192417768\"><span class=\"stack jsx-3547261442\"><\/p>\n<h2 data-cy=\"poll-question\" class=\"title2 jsx-1903782357 jsx-1377259516 headline\" id=\"poll-question\">Which Edition of GTA 6 Will You Buy?<\/h2>\n<p><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-4218469134 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-1-1 jsx-3010959690 jsx-2338608387\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/legend>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId67345\" id=\"answerId67345-label\"><span class=\"label\">Standard Edition<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2988246289\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"poll-answer\" class=\"jsx-45304670 poll-answer highlight\"><label class=\"interface jsx-326752785 toggle-label jsx-803093603 left-justified radio\" for=\"answerId67346\" id=\"answerId67346-label\"><span class=\"label\">Ultimate Edition<\/span><span data-cy=\"left-justified\" class=\"left-justified toggle-wrapper\"><span class=\"icon-toggle-indicator\"><\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1945348876\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/fieldset>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2624643483 jsx-4255654680 poll-controls\"><button class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-2267841559 contained disabled full-width large\" disabled type=\"submit\" data-cy=\"poll-answer-btn\">Answer<\/button><button class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button jsx-3381835873 jsx-1624977611 nav next-button small\" title=\"See Results\" aria-label=\"See Results\" data-cy=\"see-results-btn\"><span style=\"white-space:nowrap;overflow:hidden;text-align:right\">See Results<\/span><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-4173866675\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" aria-label=\"See Results\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/button><\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Commercially it just makes sense in terms of cost of goods to go digital code only in a physical case \u2013 it\u2019s the best of both worlds to an extent \u2013 get exposure to the retail buyer but at a lower cost,&#8221; Harding-Rolls affirmed. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure that will be disappointing for some players, but it&#8217;s possible there will be a Collector&#8217;s Edition to come nearer to launch.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Joost van Dreunen, a video game industry researcher and professor at the NYU Stern School of Business, suggested that Rockstar would eventually launch a more expansive physical offering in the form of a Collector&#8217;s Edition \u2014 though whether this also included a disc is another matter. Many Collector&#8217;s Editions now don&#8217;t include a copy of the game at all, allowing them to be purchased separately without the need to worry about manufacturing different versions with discs for each platform.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Take-Two excels at upselling its fanbase and I have no doubt it will soon also announce a Collector&#8217;s Edition for GTA 6 that costs significantly more,&#8221; van Dreunen said. &#8220;The same cohort of adults spending thousands on LEGO sets, custom PC rigs, and in-person experiences will have no trouble spending on a franchise that arguably defined their generation. Physical expressions will be absolutely central to that.&#8221; Whether those physical versions still contain a disc, though, seems less likely than ever.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Yesterday, we polled analysts on <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/has-80-gta-6-opened-the-door-to-more-expensive-games-analysts-respond\">whether GTA 6&#8217;s $80 price point had opened the door to more expensive games<\/a><a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/has-80-gta-6-opened-the-door-to-more-expensive-games-analysts-respond\"> \u2014 here&#8217;s what they said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Tom Phillips is IGN&#8217;s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/tomphillipseg.bsky.social\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@tomphillipseg.bsky.social<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With Grand Theft Auto 6, arguably the biggest and most mass market game of the generation, skipping a disc-based launch \u2014 is physical media now dead? The rise of digital as the most common form of game ownership began long ago, but certain mass market titles \u2014 the Call of Dutys, the FIFAs of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,243],"class_list":["post-2010361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-ign-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2010361","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2010361"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2010361\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2010361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2010361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2010361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}