Retailer is Refusing to Sell Grand Theft Auto 6

Grand Theft Auto 6 is launching on November 19, but at least one retailer won’t be carrying the game on its shelves. Grand Theft Auto 6 is one of the most highly-anticipated video games of all time, if not the most highly-anticipated, and so some fans may be shocked to hear that not all retailers are eager to sell it.

Rockstar Games has kept largely quiet about Grand Theft Auto 6 until just recently when it announced that pre-orders would go live on June 25 with a $79.99 standard edition and $99.99 Ultimate Edition. Those that pre-order will also be able to pre-load the game about a week before its launch date, so they can jump in immediately when it goes live. However, one detail about GTA 6 has some fans up in arms, and understandably so.

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Why VGP Won’t Carry GTA 6

It’s been confirmed that the physical version of GTA 6 will be a code in a box when it releases on November 19. Effectively, this means that GTA 6 doesn’t really have a true physical version — fans will just have the chance to buy the box if they want something for their shelf. As one might imagine, this revelation has upset a lot of fans, and it’s also drawn criticism from retailers. Canadian retailer VGP has stated that it will not be selling GTA 6. VGP has a policy to not sell physical products that only have a digital download code. VGP stressed that this decision has nothing to do with the potential quality of GTA 6. “Should Rockstar one day release a physical edition containing a disc in the box, we would be pleased to carry and support that version for our customers,” VGP said on Twitter.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)

It will be interesting to see if other retailers follow in VGP’s footsteps and decline to carry GTA 6 on their shelves. If so, it wouldn’t be the first time that a retailer refused to carry a Grand Theft Auto game. The Grand Theft Auto franchise’s controversial content has long kept it from being sold at various retailers, with the most significant example being the GTA: San Andreas Hot Coffee mod fiasco, which saw the game pulled from sale and reissued with an Adults Only rating before the situation could be rectified.

Ultimately, it’s not surprising that there are people upset about GTA 6‘s physical version not having a disc, but it’s not the only controversy to come out since the price and Ultimate Edition announcement. There are some fans that are upset about the GTA 6 Ultimate Edition content, feeling as though Rockstar is blocking too much behind the higher price tag. Those that expected GTA 6 to cost $100 for just the standard edition might be more willing to shell out the extra cash, though.

Despite these controversies, Grand Theft Auto 6 is going to be a record-breaking release when it launches later this year. The hype behind the game is unprecedented, and based on the success of its predecessor, it stands a realistic shot of being one of the most commercially successful entertainment products of all time.