Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick Won’t Rule Out GTA 6 on Disc at Some Point, Insists Decision Had Nothing to Do With Concern Over Leaks
Take-Two chief executive Strauss Zelnick has said he will not rule out a physical-disc release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in future, despite the game being confirmed as digital-only at launch. He said the company chose what it believed was right for the project and argued that discs no longer make much sense for consumers, making the decision significant amid wider concern about ownership and preservation of games.
Zelnick said more than 90% of Take-Two’s sales are digital and maintained that players are already connected online, so digital distribution is the most efficient option. He denied that avoiding pre-release leaks influenced the decision, even though analysts had suggested a disc-free launch could help Rockstar retain secrecy; the move has nevertheless prompted backlash alongside Sony’s separate plan to end PlayStation disc production from 2028.
- Take-Two may still release GTA 6 on disc.
- Zelnick says digital sales exceed 90%.
- He denies the decision was driven by leak concerns.
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Grand Theft Auto is a long-running series of open-world action games made by Rockstar Games, a studio owned by Take-Two Interactive. Take-Two’s chief executive, Strauss Zelnick, oversees the company, which also publishes games in other major series.
Games can be bought as downloads or on physical discs. Digital copies are delivered online, while discs can be lent, resold or kept as a physical collection, though some games still require downloads or internet access.
The choice matters to players who value convenience as well as those concerned about keeping access to games over time. More broadly, publishers’ shift towards digital sales is changing how games are bought and preserved.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Take-Two's decision reflects genuine market realities where over 90% of its revenue is already digital, demonstrating clear consumer preference for this format. With modern online connectivity now standard and games exceeding practical disc capacity, digital distribution is operationally efficient and inevitable. Physical media involves substantial manufacturing and environmental costs whilst offering little practical benefit to connected players. This represents pragmatic evolution in line with where the market has already moved.
The case against
This shift to digital-only erodes consumer rights by removing ownership and permanence. Games vanish when publishers delist them or close servers—a real concern given companies routinely discontinue older titles. The 90% digital sales figure reflects limited availability rather than genuine preference for the format. Combined with Sony ending disc production by 2028, this suggests industry coordination to eliminate consumer alternatives and lock players into company-controlled ecosystems they cannot escape.