Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has shut down rumors claiming Grand Theft Auto 6 would launch as a digital-only release, confirming the game will be available on disc from day one.
The rumor originated last month when a Polish gaming site reported that Rockstar Games planned to delay physical copies to prevent early leaks. The claim suggested physical versions might arrive weeks after the digital launch, or possibly not until early 2027. The reasoning seemed plausible enough: physical discs have a history of ending up in the wild before official release dates, giving people early access to game files and potentially spoiling major story beats or mechanics.
But speaking to Variety during Take-Two's Q3 earnings call yesterday, Zelnick was direct when asked about the alleged delay plan. "That's not the plan," he said, denying any intention to stagger the release between digital and physical formats.
The rumor had spread quickly across gaming communities after the initial report, with several outlets picking up the story. However, the claim never had solid verification behind it, and the logic didn't entirely hold up under scrutiny. Digital games have leaked through pre-loads before, including GTA V itself over a decade ago, so going digital-only wouldn't actually eliminate leak risks.
