Analysts: GTA 6 Ditching the Disc Won't Hurt Sales — 'Players Will Accept It'

Rockstar Games confirmed this week that the physical edition of Grand Theft Auto VI will not include an actual game disc — instead, the box will contain nothing more than a digital download code. While the news has stirred predictable outrage in certain corners of the internet, industry analysts are nearly unanimous: the decision is a no-brainer for Rockstar, and it won’t make a dent in the game’s colossal sales potential.

Chris Dring, an analyst at The Game Business, described the move as “almost entirely beneficial” for Rockstar. Speaking to VGC, Dring acknowledged that a segment of players will inevitably be frustrated, and that consumers unfamiliar with digital products may face friction — “but for most people, it won’t really make much difference.”

The upside for Rockstar is substantial. By eliminating physical discs, the studio can continue development right up to the launch window without being forced to lock in a gold master weeks in advance for disc pressing and global logistics. It also kills the second-hand market at the source and significantly reduces the risk of pre-release leaks — both perennial headaches for AAA publishers.

“The real losers here are game retailers,” Dring said, “though there aren’t many left to begin with. Second-hand platforms like eBay and CeX will feel the pinch too. Retailers will have to pivot harder toward merchandise, hardware, and other add-on sales opportunities. Meanwhile, the PlayStation Store and Xbox Store come out as winners. Ultimately, players will accept it. This is GTA, after all.”

GTA 6’s Ultimate Edition is priced at $100 and bundles multiple DLC packs spanning weapons, clothing, and vehicles.

Mat Piscatella, senior director at Circana and a veteran video game industry analyst, shares the same outlook. He argues the decision won’t meaningfully affect sales numbers — and may even help retailers in an unexpected way. “Boxed download codes aren’t necessarily bad for retailers, because console owners without disc drives can still buy a physical package. Otherwise, those players would likely just purchase digitally through the console storefront.”

Piscatella noted that GTA 6 is hardly the first game to ship as a boxed code — the practice has been common for years. “Look, 52% of Xbox Series consoles sold in the US through May 2026 don’t have a disc drive. For PS5, it’s 27%, though external drives remain an option. All-digital PlayStation and Xbox consoles are becoming the norm. A box with a download code actually lets retailers reach more consumers. If the box only had a disc, players without drives couldn’t buy it at all.”

In the end, Piscatella sees the format debate as a footnote. “Game sales on PS5 and Xbox Series have already shifted decisively toward digital. Xbox Series is further along that curve than PS5, and the trend isn’t slowing down. Boxed download codes are just another step in a digital transition that’s been underway since the early 2010s. Sure, there’s a cohort of players who genuinely want a disc in the box. But I don’t think this distribution choice meaningfully weakens GTA 6’s sales potential. This is GTA 6.”