Take-Two Says Discs No Longer “Make Sense” for Consumers as Digital Is More “Convenient”
Although a retail version is technically planned, GTA 6 will not be released on a physical disc. Instead, the game’s box will only include a code that players can use to download the game digitally.
During the company’s latest meeting with shareholders, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said that the digital market has become the dominant way people buy games and is also the most convenient option for players.
While he refused to comment directly on Sony’s decision to stop producing PlayStation game discs starting in 2028, he said that, in the case of GTA 6, releasing the game on a physical disc simply does not make sense.
Physical Game Discs No Longer Make Sense for Players, Take-Two CEO Claims
“Our business is well over 90% digitally distributed,” the CEO said. “It’s already a digital business. So in certain instances, especially if it’s a big game, discs just — and note I said discs — don’t really make sense for the consumer. Also, most instances you have to register online to play anyhow. So if you’re already connected, who cares if you download digitally? It’s all the same and it’s much more convenient.”
Zelnick also explained that this is the direction the industry is moving toward.
“So that’s where the world is going in our opinion and I think Sony understands that,” he added. “We certainly understand that. It doesn’t mean that we won’t have physical additions now and then, I’m sure we will in the same way that there’s still vinyl in the recorded music business. But in other instances, it just won’t make sense.”
While many players who prefer physical games and collectors have criticized the move away from discs, several developers share Take-Two’s opinion. Capcom, for example, recently said that the end of physical games would not have a “significant impact” on its business because around 90% of its game sales are already digital.
Take-Two’s comments also come while the company is working closely with PlayStation to promote GTA 6. The partnership may not have shaped its opinion, but it is not surprising to see both companies support the same digital-first direction.
Speaking of GTA 6, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick was also asked about the game’s $80 price tag, saying that calling it an “incredible bargain” is a “gross understatement.” For those wondering when they’ll get another look at the game, Rockstar Games has announced a partnership with Netflix to debut an extended look at GTA 6 later this August.
