Sony deleted a Grand Theft Auto 6 ad showing a disc drive PlayStation 5 and reposted it with the discless model, confirming the code in the box launch is locked.
Sony deleted one of its Grand Theft Auto VI promotional posts and quietly reposted a corrected version. The change was small enough that most people would scroll right past it, but it says something about the discless launch.
For those who missed it, the original ad showed a PlayStation 5 with a disc drive. The repost, which went up after a couple of hours, swapped in an updated version of the PS5, the one without a disc drive, alongside an updated GTA 6 logo. The timing, right as pre-orders kicked off, implies that Sony probably wasn't aware of what Rockstar Games had planned for the next Grand Theft Auto.
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Showing a PS5 with a disc drive in a GTA 6 ad creates an obvious mismatch. After all, why highlight a disc slot for a game that ships with no disc? Sony caught that and fixed it to avoid potential backlash and probably even legal issues.
GTA 6 Pre-Order Ad Changes
| Element | Original Ad (Deleted) | Reposted Ad |
|---|---|---|
Console shown | PS5 with a disc drive | Disc-less PS5 |
GTA 6 logo | Old logo | Updated logo |
Timing | Pulled quickly | Reposted as pre-orders opened |
Reason | Mismatched the code-only product | Aligned visuals with reality |
Two changes, the console image and the logo, both aimed at matching the ad to GTA 6 being a digital product without cardboard around it.
So what does the edit actually tell us? Mostly, the marketing chain was a step behind the final decision. Sony's team built an ad with a disc-drive PS5, suggesting the disc-less reality was not fully baked into the visuals when it was made. Once Rockstar's code-in-box details went public and got emphasized, Sony scrambled. It's not like it's unusual for marketing assets to get updated when final product details lock in.
Besides, Sony, much like everyone else, probably assumed a physical disc was coming after Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick said this earlier this year.
Do not over-read this. The edit is interesting because of what it accidentally reveals, that parts of the chain were not fully synced, not because it exposes some master plan.
What it does confirm, though, is that the discless reality is locked, and everyone is adjusting to it. Sony is not going to show you a disc drive for GTA 6 because there is no disc to insert.
Interestingly, there are insider claims that a true disc version is arriving in December, and retailers have already pushed back, with others launching a petition. So the ad edit lands in the middle of an active fight over what "physical" even means for GTA 6. Sony fixing its visuals does not resolve that. It just confirms which version is real right now.
For physical fans, it is one more small visual reminder that the traditional disc release they wanted is not happening in November, and maybe not at all unless the December rumors pan out.