‘Discs Don’t Really Make Sense’: GTA 6 Boss Says ‘Sony Understands That’ as It Kills Physical Games
Take-Two Interactive chief executive Strauss Zelnick has supported Sony’s plan to stop manufacturing physical PlayStation game discs from January 2028, arguing that digital downloads are more convenient and that discs often no longer make sense for consumers. His comments matter because they indicate major publishers may back Sony’s shift away from traditional physical releases, despite opposition from players concerned about ownership, resale and preservation.
Zelnick said Take-Two’s business is already more than 90% digitally distributed, rising to 98% when downloadable content and microtransactions are included. GTA 6 is due to be sold physically only as a boxed download code, meaning it cannot be resold once redeemed; Zelnick said its pre-orders have been “exceptional”. Sony says it will continue supporting retailers after 2028, apparently through boxed download codes rather than discs.
In short
- Take-Two backs Sony’s move away from physical game discs.
- GTA 6 will use boxed download codes, not discs.
- Digital revenue already dominates Take-Two’s business.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Digital distribution offers genuine advantages in convenience, cost-efficiency, and sustainability. When consumers can download games instantly without waiting for physical delivery or managing media, and when publishers eliminate manufacturing overhead whilst reducing platform fragmentation through unified digital storefronts, the operational case becomes clear. The environmental benefits of avoiding physical production and logistics, combined with the industry's genuine progress in delivering reliable online services, support the argument that digital-only distribution represents a more efficient and sustainable future—particularly when games increasingly receive post-launch updates that make physical media outdated upon purchase.
The case against
The shift away from physical media raises legitimate concerns about consumer rights and cultural preservation. Whilst digital licensing removes ownership rights that physical purchases provide—including resale, gifting, and indefinite access—it leaves ownership entirely dependent on corporate servers and policy decisions. Game preservation concerns are substantive; digital titles disappear when publishers delist them, servers shut down, or companies fail, creating potential loss of cultural artefacts that physical media protects. Digital-only models also exclude consumers with unreliable broadband, concentrate market power in platform holders who control pricing and availability, and represent a philosophical shift where consumers move from ownership to perpetual renting under terms that corporations can unilaterally change.
Explained simply
Game publishers sell new releases as boxed discs or digital downloads. Discs can be lent or resold, while digital copies are tied to an account; many games also receive updates and extra content after launch.
Sony makes PlayStation consoles, while Take-Two Interactive publishes games including Grand Theft Auto. Its chief executive, Strauss Zelnick, has said most of Take-Two’s sales are already digital, reflecting a wider shift in how games are sold.
The move away from discs affects how players buy, share and keep games. It also matters to shops that sell boxed games and to people concerned about access to older titles if online services change or end.