When Grand Theft Auto 6 launches this November, it won’t be available on disc. Instead, physical copies of the upcoming open-world crime sim will contain just a code in a box. That’s pretty silly, but in Japan things get even dumber. Likely due to regional regulations, the codes inside Japanese copies of GTA 6 will expire after 170 days.
Last week, Power Unlimited columnist Genki spotted evidence that suggested codes for GTA 6 in Japan might expire after a few months. But they weren’t sure if this was just a restriction placed on DLC or the full game. Now, Genki has reportedly confirmed that in Japan, physical copies of GTA 6 will contain a single code that will expire after 170 days. And honestly, I’m not sure why there was any confusion to begin with, as Rockstar’s own support site is very clear about this.
Over on the support page for GTA 6, it states that pre-ordered physical copies of the game will include “one code” that will grant the customer access to a digital download of the full game and the pre-order cosmetic pack. And if you don’t pre-order GTA 6 and pick up a physical copy at the store, it will also contain just one code that won’t come with the cosmetic pack. There is no physical version (a code in a box) for the $100 Ultimate Edition.
So it’s clear that physical copies of GTA 6 will include one single code, regardless of whether you pre-order or not. And in Japan, that code will expire 170 days after the release of GTA 6 on November 19. So on May 8, 2027, physical copies of GTA 6 sold in Japan at launch will become worthless.
As pointed out by Genki, this is likely due to a law in Japan regarding digital codes and assets. The Japan Payment Services Act forces companies selling prepaid goods or services to deposit at least half the value of each item sold with the Japan Legal Affairs Bureau. This is to protect consumers from scams or to help them when companies go under. However, companies can avoid this law if the prepaid code expires six months after it was issued. Hey, what do you know, 170 days is just a bit less than six months. Huh!
Kotaku has contacted Rockstar Games for more information, but it does seem very plausible that this law has led to a strange situation: Physical copies of games becoming worthless after a few months. Strange stuff, but this is likely to be more common as we move toward an all-digital future for games that is still trying to appease retailers and customers who prefer physical copies.