GTA VI $80 | physical is code in a box

[weirdfeline]

Ultimate Edition has a long list of extras for $100 including multiple stores that are only accessible with the Ultimate Edition.

https://www.gematsu.com/2026/06/grand-theft-auto-vi-pricing-ultimate-edition-and-pre-order-bonuses-announced

Zero mention of an online mode. GTA Online originally launched a couple weeks after GTA V but with zero mention of it maybe we are looking at a couple of months?

[kamikazekeeg]

Normally ultimate editions don't sound like too big of a deal, usually cosmetics, or more like post-release content included, but I don't like that they have so many guns, vehicles, and stores hidden behind paid content on an 80 dollar game.  Just feels like they wanted to do 100 bucks for the base game, but knew it would annoy a bunch of folks if they did it outright. 

Not super surprised with no physical edition, feel like this is the start of things like what happened with PC games.  This was gonna happen no matter what, big games haven't had the complete game on them in years on console, but if they are charging 80 bucks, at least do a dual disc release, it's not like it's impossible to do and it's guaranteed to sell.  I saw some folks saying it was to avoid leaks and cut out resale, which would make sense, but again...Just annoying to see the blatant greed on something that'll make billions of dollars lol

[weirdfeline]

Normally ultimate editions don't sound like too big of a deal, usually cosmetics, or more like post-release content included, but I don't like that they have so many guns, vehicles, and stores hidden behind paid content on an 80 dollar game.  Just feels like they wanted to do 100 bucks for the base game, but knew it would annoy a bunch of folks if they did it outright. 

Not super surprised with no physical edition, feel like this is the start of things like what happened with PC games.  This was gonna happen no matter what, big games haven't had the complete game on them in years on console, but if they are charging 80 bucks, at least do a dual disc release, it's not like it's impossible to do and it's guaranteed to sell.  I saw some folks saying it was to avoid leaks and cut out resale, which would make sense, but again...Just annoying to see the blatant greed on something that'll make billions of dollars lol

Yeah I think they wanted $100 and settled at $80 to get everyone in. There's an upgrade to the Ultimate Edition so at least it's not locking you out entirely.

The physical launches a week before the game is playable to give people a chance to install. I think 007 First Light was unplayable until launch even with the disc. More profits as if they weren't already going to make enough. I don't know if I would play this game day one. PSN will likely be faulty, possible save losses, etc.

[kamikazekeeg]

Normally ultimate editions don't sound like too big of a deal, usually cosmetics, or more like post-release content included, but I don't like that they have so many guns, vehicles, and stores hidden behind paid content on an 80 dollar game.  Just feels like they wanted to do 100 bucks for the base game, but knew it would annoy a bunch of folks if they did it outright. 

Not super surprised with no physical edition, feel like this is the start of things like what happened with PC games.  This was gonna happen no matter what, big games haven't had the complete game on them in years on console, but if they are charging 80 bucks, at least do a dual disc release, it's not like it's impossible to do and it's guaranteed to sell.  I saw some folks saying it was to avoid leaks and cut out resale, which would make sense, but again...Just annoying to see the blatant greed on something that'll make billions of dollars lol

Yeah I think they wanted $100 and settled at $80 to get everyone in. There's an upgrade to the Ultimate Edition so at least it's not locking you out entirely.

The physical launches a week before the game is playable to give people a chance to install. I think 007 First Light was unplayable until launch even with the disc. More profits as if they weren't already going to make enough. I don't know if I would play this game day one. PSN will likely be faulty, possible save losses, etc.

I'm not even that excited for GTA6 myself, I'm sure it'll be fine, GTA5 was decent all around, though I'd like it if they are coming out big with this game with a lot to do, stuff to buy, lots of singleplayer content beyond the story because I'm otherwise expecting them to do what they did with GTA5, which was just put out an okay main game and then put all their focus on GTA Online, which I don't really care for. 

I wasn't gonna grab it for console anyways even if I did get it, as it's probably a year after console that the PC version will come out, if not longer lol

[dhaabi]

Normally ultimate editions don't sound like too big of a deal, usually cosmetics, or more like post-release content included, but I don't like that they have so many guns, vehicles, and stores hidden behind paid content on an 80 dollar game.  Just feels like they wanted to do 100 bucks for the base game, but knew it would annoy a bunch of folks if they did it outright.

That's exactly what's being planned with these price points. For $80, consumers can—and will—buy an incomplete game. And this isn't like DLC announced soon after or even before a retail product releases which is actually extra content that's being promised to players should sales numbers reach their target goals. Instead, the Ultimate Edition content is just what's being taken away from those who decide to spend less, simply believing that it's only just the more affordable version.

but if they are charging 80 bucks, at least do a dual disc release, it's not like it's impossible to do and it's guaranteed to sell.

Obviously, that sort of action would lead more people who are interested to make the sale, but I suppose Take-Two's marketing analysts don't think it would offset the costs of everything that comes with physical products, such as manufacturing and distribution. Because at the end of the day, it's not as if Take-Two is against physical products. They're just concerned with what decisions will yield the most profits.

[kamikazekeeg]

Obviously, that sort of action would lead more people who are interested to make the sale, but I suppose Take-Two's marketing analysts don't think it would offset the costs of everything that comes with physical products, such as manufacturing and distribution. Because at the end of the day, it's not as if Take-Two is against physical products. They're just concerned with what decisions will yield the most profits.

Which is so shitty to do when the game is guaranteed to do billions and they are trying to squeeze every penny they can out of that.

[bikingjahuty]

I keep reading posts on other sites where people are predicting the price point, the cut content, and the no physical disc is going to cause this game to underperform. I laugh every time I've read this. Despite these very shitty, anti consumer things Take Two is doing with this game, GTA6 is probably going to have the biggest game launch of all time. I believe I remember reading somewhere that physical game sales only account for like 10% of overall game sales in recent years. Clearly, most people don't give a crap about actually owning their games and are more than willing to trade ownership for convenience.


It deeply saddens me that we are here as a society, where no one values actual ownership and we're essentially a society of subscribers, renters, and borrowers. 15-years ago, people were up in arms about on disc DLC. For a bit, this practice was either kept on the hush hush by publishers or outright removed due to the backlash. Now, there are people who unironically get hyped for DLC, even when it's clearly being used in an abusive way. My faith in humanity has taken a massive hit over the past decade and all this certainly doesn't improve it.

[marvelvscapcom2]

I keep reading posts on other sites where people are predicting the price point, the cut content, and the no physical disc is going to cause this game to underperform. I laugh every time I've read this. Despite these very shitty, anti consumer things Take Two is doing with this game, GTA6 is probably going to have the biggest game launch of all time. I believe I remember reading somewhere that physical game sales only account for like 10% of overall game sales in recent years. Clearly, most people don't give a crap about actually owning their games and are more than willing to trade ownership for convenience.


It deeply saddens me that we are here as a society, where no one values actual ownership and we're essentially a society of subscribers, renters, and borrowers. 15-years ago, people were up in arms about on disc DLC. For a bit, this practice was either kept on the hush hush by publishers or outright removed due to the backlash. Now, there are people who unironically get hyped for DLC, even when it's clearly being used in an abusive way. My faith in humanity has taken a massive hit over the past decade and all this certainly doesn't improve it.

Remember when people flipped the lid because Xbox made Kinect manditoty and they had to scrap the whole idea and do a non kinect bundle and their launch still tanked?  And the whole "always online" Now you got big box console developers making you sign contractual rights to your physical hardware away nevermind software lol.   Remember when people flipped the lid over stuff like "Kinect watching me masturbate" and now they let AI develop portions of their games and accept to share data without even reading.  Digital keys. Online only.  All the same plague.

Once playstation gave a digital only console and upsold the disc drives and Xbox followed suit. It was the beggining of the end for Physical media. It said to the devs and consumers alike.  Physical is a privilege. Digital is the norm.  It is sad how easy we have gotten as gamers though.  No fight. Myself included.  As much as I stood strong with not getting a Nintendo Switch 2.  I will cave to fomo for GTA 6.  All mock me now.  But I am deeply ashamed of the companies practices. But its also GTA 6. 


But I also hear this thing is gonna be 250 to 300gb without patches? Thats one thirsty boy lol.  That alone is kinda shitty for anyone who isn't packing a very expensive internal ssd.  But I suppose its the least their fault of the issues.

[marvelvscapcom2]

THE COUNTERS


I heard this recently in a thread on some social media. Prob insta or reddit but lmk if it has a grain of truth guys. Because tbh im no expert on the internals of the release of GTA 6.  But ive been told if GTA 6 had released on disc. It woild require 3 discs because modern discs are 100gb blu ray. And its industry's standard. But GTA is well above 200gb.  And even with modern compression it'd be 3 discs.  And the cost would outweigh what they wanna deal with developing a 3 spindle case at scale like that.


Ive also been told going digital only first is an anti leaking measure. Because people at the processing factories could steal copies and leak stuff but wouldn't that just be still timed to the games release on digital stores and not allow a launch? Or maybe they're worried a hacker would access the files and spoil the ending. Idk.   Where as a digital code. Even if stolen. Is a piece of paper that forces you to wait like everyone else.



Two things to consider. Lmk if either have decent basis.

[dhaabi]

It deeply saddens me that we are here as a society, where no one values actual ownership and we're essentially a society of subscribers, renters, and borrowers. 15-years ago, people were up in arms about on disc DLC. For a bit, this practice was either kept on the hush hush by publishers or outright removed due to the backlash. Now, there are people who unironically get hyped for DLC, even when it's clearly being used in an abusive way. My faith in humanity has taken a massive hit over the past decade and all this certainly doesn't improve it.

Is there something inherently wrong with DLC? More content becoming available is generally more good than bad.

It's a subject that, from the perspective of a physical collector in particular, requires some level of nuance. Would most collectors rather have games be manufactured physically with all content on the disc itself? Yes—but patches and updates, let alone DLC, complicates that. Sometimes more up-to-date versions are released physically at a time later with these updates, but that more often doesn't happen for a variety of reasons.

[dhaabi]

Once playstation gave a digital only console and upsold the disc drives and Xbox followed suit. It was the beggining of the end for Physical media. It said to the devs and consumers alike.  Physical is a privilege. Digital is the norm.  It is sad how easy we have gotten as gamers though.  No fight. Myself included.  As much as I stood strong with not getting a Nintendo Switch 2.  I will cave to fomo for GTA 6.  All mock me now.  But I am deeply ashamed of the companies practices. But its also GTA 6.

I may be wrong, but I believe Microsoft released the first digital-only console, it being the Xbox One S in 2019.

There will probably be some offense taken by saying this, but it's a hard truth worth saying: if someone ultimately yields to problems they're actively aware of while even after voicing opposition toward them, then it's difficult for others to take that person seriously regarding the topic because it signals to them that that person, at least in this individual circumstance, doesn't stand by their principles.

But ive been told if GTA 6 had released on disc. It woild require 3 discs because modern discs are 100gb blu ray. And its industry's standard. But GTA is well above 200gb.  And even with modern compression it'd be 3 discs.  And the cost would outweigh what they wanna deal with developing a 3 spindle case at scale like that.

A 3-disc game case wouldn't even need to be manufactured, although one certainly could be made by including a swinging disc tray in already-existing 2-disc cases. Additional discs could just be contained in a sleeve such as what was done for the Xbox version of Baldur's Gate 3.

[marvelvscapcom2]

Once playstation gave a digital only console and upsold the disc drives and Xbox followed suit. It was the beggining of the end for Physical media. It said to the devs and consumers alike.  Physical is a privilege. Digital is the norm.  It is sad how easy we have gotten as gamers though.  No fight. Myself included.  As much as I stood strong with not getting a Nintendo Switch 2.  I will cave to fomo for GTA 6.  All mock me now.  But I am deeply ashamed of the companies practices. But its also GTA 6.

I may be wrong, but I believe Microsoft released the first digital-only console, it being the Xbox One S in 2019.

There will probably be some offense taken by saying this, but it's a hard truth worth saying: if someone ultimately yields to problems they're actively aware of while even after voicing opposition toward them, then it's difficult for others to take that person seriously regarding the topic because it signals to them that that person, at least in this individual circumstance, doesn't stand by their principles.

But ive been told if GTA 6 had released on disc. It woild require 3 discs because modern discs are 100gb blu ray. And its industry's standard. But GTA is well above 200gb.  And even with modern compression it'd be 3 discs.  And the cost would outweigh what they wanna deal with developing a 3 spindle case at scale like that.

A 3-disc game case wouldn't even need to be manufactured, although one certainly could be made by including a swinging disc tray in already-existing 2-disc cases. Additional discs could just be contained in a sleeve such as what was done for the Xbox version of Baldur's Gate 3.

Well.that would be anyone who hates on GTA 6's anti consumer policies and digital codes, a hiding content behind giant pay walls but also purchased a switch 2 that literally makes you sign away hardware ownership of an entire console and didn't even blink twice. So I certainly wouldnt be alone in that regard. Especially in this forum. We all have taken blows countless tikes in this gaming sphere. Won't be the first. Wont be the last.  Don't blame the player for having to balance their principles with their freedom to enjoy their favorite hobby. It isnt always easy.

[ssj4yamgeta]

Polish game website PPE is reporting a rumor that a disc version will launch in December, and that the code-in-a-box version was just to prevent it from leaking early. This is apparently from the same source that said the initial release would be code-in-a-box months ago.

https://www.gematsu.com/2026/06/rumor-grand-theft-auto-vi-disc-version-to-launch-in-december

I'll still be waiting a long time after release to get info on whether or not it's actually good before I decide to get it. I don't really want a game that's going to be hundreds of hours of filler side quests, and I don't want a 'modernized' version of GTA. Plus, this game is in no way going to be rare. It will be one of the best-selling games of all time regardless of how many problems it has because people these days buy brands instead of products, so why pay full price when it will be $20 in a few years?