A former GTA creator shares his stance on digital and physical media after Sony’s recent decision to transition to digital-only games, at the same time as a PlayStation fan loses their account and is unable to play digital games. Currently, the Grand Theft Auto studio is one of the companies leading the charge in the push towards digital media.
Rockstar has built itself up as one of the juggernauts of the gaming industry, holding a wealth of iconic and recognizable titles under its belt. Grand Theft Auto serves as the company’s biggest flagship franchise, with the launch of new games typically being some of the biggest releases in the gaming world. Rockstar has also seen major success in recent years with the Red Dead Redemption series, while also boasting several popular smaller properties such as Max Payne, Bully, and L.A. Noire among others. Now, one of the individuals who helped to found Rockstar Games has shared his thoughts on the benefits of digital games right when a post about the dangers of digital-only games became viral.
Former GTA Creator Addresses Digital vs. Physical Games
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Image via Rockstar Games -
Image via Rockstar Games/Take-Two Interactive
Dan Houser shared his thoughts on the future of physical games during the recent San Diego Comic-Con. Houser said he “didn’t personally care” whether physical games continue to be produced, though he added that companies should provide physical discs “if people want them.” Houser did acknowledge the benefits of digital games for development studios, with developers able to continue to update games and fix problems following a game’s release. Dan Houser previously worked as lead developer on both Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 before leaving Rockstar Games in 2020.
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Former Rockstar producer Lazlow Jones also weighed in on the debate during the event, stressing the convenience of digital games. Lazlow noted one of the downsides of the transition to digital media: losing the feeling of purchasing a new physical game, opening the case, and “putting the disc in the console” for the first time. However, Jones also shared the convenience of digital games with the resurgence of the handheld market and consoles like the Steam Deck, such as being able to “download some quick games” before a flight.
Rockstar Games has been one of the companies at the forefront of the debate between physical and digital games in recent weeks. The company announced in June 2026 that the physical release of Grand Theft Auto 6 will not include a disc, instead containing a code for the game’s digital version. The change was met with swift backlash from many members of the gaming community, who said that the digital-only release removes any possibility of resale and undermines the game’s collectibility. The lack of a physical disc for Grand Theft Auto 6 could also draw concerns from fans about licensing for the game, with Sony fans already getting a first-hand look at the possible ramifications of a digital-only future.
Sony’s Digital-Only Future Could Spell Trouble For Older Accounts
Sony sparked significant controversy when the company revealed that it will phase out physical game discs after 2027, meaning it will no longer produce discs for new PlayStation games starting in 2028. Fans have also discovered a major change in Sony’s policy for inactive accounts, with accounts potentially being closed after three years of inactivity. The change has led to outrage among many fans, with some already claiming to have lost access to games on older PSN accounts. Such is the case of Twitter user RY3NO, who stated in a viral post that their brother’s PSN account had been deleted after being inactive, and they couldn’t play games downloaded on their PS3 because the license had expired.
The shift away from physical media has been far from exclusive to Rockstar or Sony’s pre-existing consoles. Sony’s change is expected to be connected to a similar change in the in-development PlayStation 6, with Sony’s next home console rumored to be switching to a digital-only model. Xbox’s upcoming Project Helix has also been the subject of heavy rumors about a potential shift to a digital-only model, with the console reportedly not even coming with a disc drive. The shift away from physical discs will likely continue to be a hot topic of discussion among gamers for years to come.
Source: GamesRadar
- Released
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November 19, 2026
- ESRB
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Rating Pending – Likely Mature 17+
