Some Stores Already Refuse To Sell GTA 6 Because Of Rockstar's Latest Move

With "Grand Theft Auto 6" officially opening for pre-orders soon, more details surrounding the game's release are starting to surface. Not all of these details have been met with enthusiasm, with plans for the game's physical edition leaving fans furious for a good reason. This is because the physical release isn't a conventional physical at all, only including a download code for the game rather than a disc. Retailers are among those vocally and understandably frustrated by this decision, with some stores already refusing to sell "GTA 6" as a result.

Loot Box Games has issued a statement saying that, if reports of a download code in lieu of a physical disc are true, it will not sell "Grand Theft Auto 6." Another retailer, Video Games Plus, has released a similar statement, explaining that it does not sell games that only contain a digital download code and will only sell "GTA 6" if a version with a disc is manufactured at some point. Of course, plenty of major retailers will be selling "GTA 6" regardless of the format. The game is available to pre-order on GameStop, for example, with the listing noting that the box contains a code rather than a disc. 

With "Grand Theft Auto 6" being the most anticipated video game of 2026, the decision not to release the game on disc has created headlines in the gaming world and beyond. However, the signs that the industry was ready to move away from physical releases were already there. Among the more controversial features about the Nintendo Switch 2 is that several of its releases use a game key card instead of the usual game card format. They're shipped in cases, but this format doesn't have the game data stored on a card, instead granting a one-time redemption to digitally download the title.

With "GTA 6," it's possible that the decision came from a performance perspective. But, even if it is a question of game size, Rockstar hasn't elaborated on the reasoning behind this decision. Other publishers are likely looking closely at how this strategy will pay off. There's a chance it could hinder sales, but, given the hype behind "GTA 6," it probably won't make that much of a difference. That's sad, because in this age of games being delisted and discontinued, physical releases feel more important than ever.