tech
GTA VI is a worrying sign for the future of physical games
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TL;DR
- Rockstar Games' GTA VI will not include a physical disc, only a download code in the box.
- Digital game sales have surpassed physical sales, with devices like the PlayStation Pro and Xbox Series S lacking disc drives.
- Digital ownership has disadvantages, including potential loss of access due to account bans, store closures, or licensing issues, and inability to resell or trade games.
- Preserving digital games is challenging as they only exist on downloaded devices, leading to potential permanent loss without physical versions.
- Rockstar's decision may be to prevent leaks and ensure simultaneous global release, or due to the game's massive file size.
- The 'code-in-a-box' approach has been used by other publishers, but GTA VI's scale could make this decision a significant turning point for the industry.