Grand Theft Auto VI isn't getting a physical CD, which is a smart move for Take-Two Interactive Software and a signal for how the videogame industry will do releases in the years to come.
Take-Two announced on Wednesday that pre-orders for the highly anticipated GTA VI will begin on June 25. A customer can either buy the base game for $79.99, or what is being dubbed the Ultimate Edition that includes in-game exclusive items for $99.99.
Gamers are likely breathing a sigh of relief that Take-Two also confirmed that the official launch date of GTA VI is still Nov. 19. Take-Two has delayed the release of this game multiple times.
There is another standout piece of the announcement that is a positive for the company. Take-Two said on Wednesday that a physical version of GTA VI will be available starting Nov. 12. But when customers open the box, they won't see a disc. Instead, there will be a download code.
Nick McKay, videogaming and digital entertainment analyst at Freedom Capital Markets, told Barron's that GTA VI is expected to be a massive game -- too large to be supported on a physical disc. But even if the game could fit on a traditional disc, selling it strictly digitally is a smart financial move for Take-Two.
"Making it an experience that's largely digital makes sense because it presumably ensures that Take-Two and Rockstar are economic participants in every sale of that game, because there really isn't a physical version that you can trade in," McKay said.
Removing physical discs is also better for Take-Two margins since it won't have to share a piece of the game's sale to a retailer, McKay added.
It's not surprising that Take-Two went the strictly digital route as other companies have been moving in this direction for a long time. But such a notable game going strictly digital is even more of a signal that the sale of physical discs will soon be a thing of the past.
Still, shares of Take-Two were down 2.2% on Wednesday to $237.34. It's likely shareholders were hoping that the game would be more expensive.
"Even if it had been a $200 game, I think a lot of gamers would say, even at a $200 price point, it's still something that's gonna provide more entertainment per dollars than most other things you can think of, especially as it relates to premium video game pricing," McKay said.
But there are future opportunities for Take-Two to monetize GTA VI's release outside of initial game sales. Future downloadable content or the inclusion of GTA VI in the premium online version of GTA+ could introduce further revenue opportunities for Take-Two.
McKay said that he thinks the stock was also down on Wednesday because investors were hoping to get more information about the game itself. The last trailer for GTA VI was released in May 2025. But CEO Strauss Zelnick told Barron's in May that the company plans for marketing the game "in the summertime."
Wednesday's presale announcement is likely just the beginning of a busy few weeks for GTA fans and Take-Two investors.
Write to Angela Palumbo at angela.palumbo@dowjones.com
This content was created by Barron's, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. Barron's is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
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June 24, 2026 15:30 ET (19:30 GMT)
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