Grand Theft Auto 6 became available for pre-order at midnight on 25 June, but fans eager to own a physical copy discovered a catch: the box will contain a code for a digital download, not a disc. Rockstar’s decision to ship a disc-free physical edition for the blockbuster game, which opens on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S on 19 November, has left some collectors questioning the point of buying a physical product they cannot resell or share.
Freelance video games journalist Vic Hood called the £69.99 price tag “fairly reasonable” but said the lack of a disc may “irk some physical collectors”. She added the move made sense from Rockstar’s perspective “as it reduces the amount of rebuying and reselling and helps prevent leaks”.
“GTA 6 pre-orders open at £70 with physical copies containing download codes, not discs”
Fans appeared less bothered by the $10 increase from the typical $70 price for big games. “$10 won’t be such a big hit to consumers pockets, but I still hope $80 won’t become the norm,” posted one. Joost van Dreunen, a professor of games business at NYU Stern, described the pricing – £69.99 standard, £89.99 ultimate in the UK – as a “clever strategy” by Rockstar and its parent Take-Two, “catering to the largest possible audience while offering die-hards an upgraded tier.”
The game, which some analysts believe could be the most expensive ever made with development costs exceeding $1bn (£866m), has been delayed twice – from autumn 2025 and May 2026. In a statement at the time of the second delay, Rockstar said it needed extra months to finish the game with the level of polish fans “expect and deserve”.
Players who pre-order digitally can begin pre-loading on 12 November, and physical versions will also be available from that date to support pre-loading. The ultimate edition includes extra vehicles, weapons and outfits.
GTA 6 introduces Lucia, the first female playable protagonist in a 3D setting, alongside her partner Jason in a Bonnie-and-Clyde adventure through the fictional US state of Leonida – Rockstar’s version of Florida – after an “easy score goes wrong”. Vice City, inspired by Miami, returns as the main city.
Rockstar has not yet confirmed whether an updated online mode will launch immediately, though given the success of GTA Online it is likely to exist at some point. There is no word on a PC version or Nintendo Switch 2 release, leaving PC gamers waiting for news.