GTA 6 on Disc: Zelnick Doesn't Rule It Out Despite Advocating for Digital

GTA 6 might be released on physical media: Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick told IGN that he "wouldn't rule anything out," despite advocating for a 100% digital release.

The idea of a physical disc for GTA 6 is back on the table—albeit tentatively. When asked by IGN whether Rockstar might ever release a physical edition of the game, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick replied that he wasn’t ruling it out.

“I wouldn’t rule anything out at this stage of the project. What we’ve announced so far is what we’re doing right now, but we always keep an open mind.”

It’s not a promise. It’s, at most, a door that Zelnick is leaving ajar after having considered it almost closed just a few weeks ago.

From “Who cares?” to an open mind

The shift is striking because Zelnick was recently advocating the exact opposite. During the Q&A session following Take-Two’s latest financial results, the CEO dismissed the idea of a physical disc for GTA 6: if players need to be connected to the internet to play anyway, he reasoned, what’s the point of downloading the game?

“Who cares about downloading it? It’s the same thing, and it’s much more convenient.”

Zelnick then pointed out that more than 90% of Take-Two’s business is already digital, and compared physical discs to vinyl records: a format that’s still alive, but as a niche product, not as the standard release format for a major game.

Why GTA 6 Is Coming Out Digitally Only—For Now

According to Zelnick, the decision has nothing to do with preventing leaks or with Sony planning to remove the PS5’s disc drive in 2028—two theories that had been circulating among the community for weeks. It is, quite simply, a bet on where the market is already headed.

That logic doesn’t convince the entire player base. Part of the community has been asking for a physical edition of GTA 6 for months, especially among those who collect physical copies or don’t want to rely on a digital store to access a game that costs nearly $80.

The price, in fact, is another contentious issue that Zelnick has defended with the same economic argument: he says that the $80 price tag for GTA 6 reflects inflation that the video game industry has failed to pass on to its prices for years.

What Changes (and What Doesn’t) for Players

For now, nothing. Rockstar still hasn’t announced any disc-based edition for the November 19 launch, and Zelnick’s comments to IGN aren’t a commitment: they’re a possibility that no longer completely closes the door. But coming from someone who, just weeks ago, considered it all but a done deal, the nuance matters.

If Take-Two decides at some point to release a physical version, it’s most likely to arrive after the digital launch, not on the same day. That’s the interpretation of “at this stage of the project”: an open possibility from Take-Two, not a confirmation from Rockstar.

The community that’s been asking for a disc version finally has something to hold onto. To follow every move by Take-Two and Rockstar leading up to the launch, we have all the latest news.