In an interview with IGN at San Diego Comic-Con, Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser expressed indifference to the total transition to digital, but insisted that companies are obligated to offer choice as long as demand exists. “I personally don’t care,” he said, “but if people want discs, so be it.” He immediately praised digital releases for their ability to quickly fix bugs—perhaps the only aspect where he sees an advantage. However, the key clue is hidden in context: Houser left Rockstar back in 2020, and his former studio has already abandoned physical media for GTA VI—the box contains only an activation code. Against the backdrop of Sony’s decision to stop disc production starting in January 2028, this seems like a twist of fate.
Meanwhile, the market has voted with its wallet: GTA VI pre-orders are exceeding all expectations, and that’s without a disc. Players who are the loudest in demanding a “plastic” version aren’t actually chasing it when they want the game. Houser, now the head of Absurd Ventures and working on two open-world games, remains unfazed—his words are little more than a nod to nostalgia, not a call to arms. The digital age is already here, and even the creator of GTA acknowledges this, albeit with reservations.
