Grand Theft Auto VI is coming this year after a long wait, and as it gets closer, rumors have begun to pop up about its launch. One rumor that has gained considerable traction is that the game would launch as a digital-only title, with a physical release coming at some point after release. The logic behind the rumor was that a physical release of the game could lead to early leaks ahead of the game’s launch, and that publisher Take-Two might be willing to go to great lengths to avoid this.
As it turns out, though, this is not the plan. Talking to Variety following an earnings call, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has confirmed that the publisher does not intend to delay the game’s physical release. When asked directly about the rumor that the game will not be available physically on launch day to avoid potential leaks, Zelnick gave a straightforward response: “That’s not the plan”.
Based on this, it seems that you’ll be able to buy the game on disc on launch day if that’s your preference, which is good news for physical games stores around the world. Zelnick also said that the game’s release date, November 19, 2026, is still locked in, although rumors will likely continue to circulate right through to release date–there’s speculation that the game will carry a larger-than-normal price tag, for instance.
As part of their earnings call, Take-Two also confirmed that GTA V continues to sell extremely well–it has now sold over 225 million copies, and is one of the best-selling games of all time.
GTA 6 developer Rockstar recently allowed a terminally-ill fan to play the game ahead of launch at their office in Ontario. The studio has also been in hot water for firing several developers in what some have described as an act of “union busting”.