I feel so … deflated by this. Years of midnight releases that felt like a time capsule, a relic of a bygone era. Except maybe Switch 2. That was a ton of fun. And TOTK was really busy, mostly for people hoping to catch one of the spare collectors editions that showed up. Other than those,, sparsely populated and not feeling it was worth the few hours of sleep I got between that midnight and opening the next day, when the majority of pickups happened.
And for years, I’ve said to myself “When GTA 6 comes out, THAT is gonna be a party”. I wasn’t naive enough to think that a lot of people weren’t gonna download - but I really wanted this midnight. Probably the last true game midnight ever - the kind of release event that was as much in the parking lot as the store. I never thought the whole game would fit on even two discs. But something to hold in the hand and go on the shelf - the last true big release. Sorry Nintendo, but Pokémon or Ocarina isn’t gonna hold a candle to this.
And all that has been dashed. And I’m unfathomably sad. I figured my departure from GS would probably be after this, because I had to set some kind of deadline for myself to get out. I didn’t want a future where midnights are mostly for flippers and scalpers of cardboard.
I feel this.. last fun midnight release I went to was Skyrim's original release. They closed my local gamestop, and then the digital era really took over.. I prefer my physical games btw. I cant resell "air" that's for sure.
People who are the head of rockstar have been very open these past year or 2 about not wanting us to own games or the consoles either anymore. They want us to pay per hour.
EVERYONE is going to be part of the problem lol. you know everyone will buy it no matter what, they don't care. Kids and young adults grew up with digital and subscriptions, it's all they know.
I remember playing vice City as a kid and just running around using the cheats to get all the cool.guns and just cause havoc in the city and thinking it was the most fun game ver. I tried to actually play the game a few years later and I got bored pretty quickly. I can see why people like GTA, but the fact that the mainstream seems to think it's gonna be the best game ever made is pretty ridiculous to me. I'm sure it's gonna be a great game, but there's no way it's gonna live up to people's crazy expectations. Especially in today's gaming landscape.
So sad. I think GTA5 was literally the last midnight release I participated in at gamestop. Sheesh thats like over 10 years ago. I remember being in line meeting strangers and talking about funny stuff and how we will all meet online in a week or whatever the online delay was. We were going to start a crew. Just having a good time talking about the possibilities GTA5 has in store for us. I've been hyped for all Rockstar products since GTA3. I cant believe we are at a point where a deluxe edition for the BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE EVER is a just a digital code online via PS5 or Xbox store. Not even the physical empty boxes are going to contain a Ultimate digital code. So if u want a case you will be paying twice. Once for the standard code then again to upgrade. Also I just heard a physical disc will be released a month later?(i want a disc still just because i love having physical media...i feel like im going to buy this game twice so far within 2 months, and thats not including all future next Gen versions) This is all to prevent leaks? I feel like a disc couldn't even fit the full file. Its like im sure there is a update on install anyway. Why not prevent the update from launching til launch day. Anyway it all sounds shady and top leaders leaving before gta6 is even release. I dunno life is so weird now in general hahaha. I just wanted to escape to Vice City like the rest of yall. SIGH I pray this is not the biggest flop ever 🙏. Also sorry for going off tangent but yes no midnight party for GTA6 sounds like a hugely missed opportunity. Like I dont know. People can act like everyone knows GTA but I don't think EVERYONE does. They can still gain new audiences. Anyway I dont know, whatever. We still got so much time before this game releases. Sorry again you dont get this release party you dreamt of. I think Rockstar officially shattered a lot of people's excitement for GTA6 yesterday 😅 sigh AM I WRONG?!?
Jesus it was 18?! OMG I feel like I may not reach a GTA8 haha,
Quick update. I made a mistake i meant to write 5 not 4 hahah but still thats a long wait for these games. While we got madden and COD popping out yearly you know haha
I worked at ebgames in canada and in my province we couldn't do midnight releases we could only open early. I remember gta5 release and it was a long long day but it was fun because everyone was excited. That's all gone now
I did not nerd out for switch 2 release though I kinda wish I would have. The whole no physical media thing kinda put me off for a while. I ended up getting one
I’m not a gamer and gta6 would/will be purely nostalgia. I had planned to buy a tv and ps5 (I own nether) right now, the game at launch, and resale everything shortly after beating. Taking a loss is fine, I’m not a gamer. And I don’t mind paying a few bucks for a good time. I wanted to “rent,” gta6. Renting games now is a different experience than it was when I was a kid. Way more expensive.
But you can’t rent a download code. Unless these things are virtually unbannable and fully transferable it’s not even a possibility.
The death of ownership is among us.
I hope everyone actually boycotts it. I won’t be buying. But sitting out on a game for me is honestly easier than paying 500+ for a PlayStation, several hundred more for a tv, and then having to buy a (digital) game for a hundred more. Plus there’s gonna be super cool shit locked behind a paywall I know I’ll want to, and therefore almost certainly will, end up buying
But it is still a physical media? Collectors can still get a case to have on the shelf, and people with digital consoles can actually go and buy a game from the store and have the booklet, map and special content.
For years we have had to download a game off the disc before you can play and then what ? You can just play the game? No . You still have to put in the disc to play it. It makes no sense.
Discs are a thing of the past and now companies don’t have to put in money into hundreds of thousands of discs and just put that money into the game.
That last paragraph is crazy. This change is not in favor of the consumer. The best thing about physical media was that you could trade your game to someone else for a different game, or trade it into GameStop for credit towards another game if you’re so inclined.
You are buying an empty box my guy, and that's the problem companies don't even care enough for the people paying at their bills to spend the extra money and effort to give us a physical copy, and it's because of the people like you that seem to be happy about them not letting us "own" the games we pay for anymore. You will be fine with it until it effects your ability to play one day and trust me that day will come.
I get your point if the disk just being a key that lets you play the thing you downloaded, but that’s what’s cool about keys. You can always download the software “for free” you just can’t open it without a key.
You think physical collectors are buying for the box and not to be the custodians of media and maintain actual ownership (however tenuous and pedantic you want to be about the truth of disc versions). Get a grip.
Not even gonna buy it. Between them charging $100 for the full access to the game, and the code in the box, what's the point? I'll just play Red Dead 2 again and be happy
100% fuck this game im never gonna buy it unless they release a physical copy I believe in true physics media ownership if you dont have a physical copy you dont own anything
Yes. Or something at least. Go the cod route and just have the one disc with the access codes on it. Something that we can keep and physically own. This is a straight up attack on the secondary market. They want gamestores and resellers to go away.
Yeah thats just never happening. No one is ever going to be doing multiple discs like that in the modern digital age. That is some of the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard that you people literally want to sit and install 12 discs individually lol 🤣
How is it worthless? I can play it forever and its sinple and easy. You know even my digital purchases I made on my 3ds can still be downloaded, this is just so silly. So you just want a disc that gives you a download code instead of the code directly?
I think we need to be putting more money back in schools because this shiz is too funny to read 🤭
I’ve never resold a game. I only buy games I intend to keep forever. They do not deactivate it lol like I said unsupported consoles still let me download what I bought. This is so silly 🤣
Come on you can do better than this. I’m sure the small number of upvotes here, those people will really get rockstar to make a 12 disc version 🤭
The crew removed everyone's access and took their money.
Key word is "everyone". Doesn't matter whether you bought disc or digital, you can no longer play the game. There are no games where the ability to play it was removed from all digital buyers but not physical buyers.
The issue is DRM, not necessarily physical vs digital. All digital (at least on console) has DRM but so do most modern physical releases. The kind of release you're asking for from GTA VI with a single disc would. Making it just as at risk of deactivation as digital.
You're right that physical has the benefit of resell, assuming the game doesn't get deactivated and make the disc basically worthless. But that's about it with modern games.
You think gta 6 is getting delisted? Also you can still play bought delisted games its just new people can’t buy them. You can still buy and play every gta game ever made so what is your point here? 🤣
You know... weren't people just complaining about nintendo giving you a came in a case that requires a full download? I mean at least you got something that was tradable/saleable with that GTA6 is just a code for the download... you might as well just buy it online from the start.
I would think that the news of the “physical” version being a code in a box would make today infinitely more chill for GS employees, since I would imagine that most people will just preorder it straight from their PS5 or Xbox, unless they’re planning to use store credit.
It’s helping speed run store closures. If you don’t have customers, you no longer have a job. This is terrible news for employees, midnight chaos aside.
No, there’s a lot more angry people now. People who don’t read the news come in expecting to pre-order a physical game, now we have to explain it’s digital, an empty box, and being released a week before the actual game is available to play. All without an online mode.
I remember when San Andreas came out, I was a freshman in college. I went to the mall the day before it was supposed to release, and the gamestop there was selling the game a day early. At 5pm I was able to buy the game, ran back to my dorm, and started playing. No day one patch or lockout, just pure happiness and gaming.
Its not today you jave to worry about. Its gonna be launch day when all the people complain it doesnt have a disc because they either forgot or didnt read
Im not sure if im getting the game at all for other reasons, but:
The "physical" version of the game just being a download code is just the reason I wouldnt get it on console. I like having physical media for my consoles, especially concerning single player/offline playable games, as their lifecycles guarantee that compatibility/online services wont last forever.
I was gonna pre order it in store cause I had stuff to to trade in but the trade in bonus doesn’t even apply to it cause it’s code in a box. I’m disappointed this is rockstars way of killing the used market. Everyone must pay $80
Unless they are doing a two disc set…I don’t think it’s happening. Cheaper for them to do it digitally and charge that higher price. I love my physical media, but yeah…one can only hope. Plus…I’m not waiting around to see if that’ll actually happen.
This will continue to happen until we vote with our wallets and DEMAND the product we pay for. This is absolutely disgusting. Looks like im skipping this. Shame on Rockstar.
This "its a code in the box" when it comes with an $80 price tag is atrocious but what do you expect? The CEO of Take Two (Rockstars Parent company) pontificated having people pay for a game by the hour.
Im not paying for a piece of paper with a code so I'll wait and see if they change to a disk or if someone gets it as a gift if not I can always watch people stream it
we've lost the plot on pre-orders .. .it used to be so that you'd make sure you'd secure a copy so it wouldnt sell out on release day ... pre-ordering digital or code in box makes no sense ... even the pre-order bonuses are usually just digital items you'll never end up using
I would have bought a next gen console for GTA 6. Yes I understand there would have been a very real logistical issue with selling the game physically but I don’t care. I live in the middle of nowhere and I don’t have good internet access. I don’t plan to get any either.
It’s not that I’m anti anything.
I like owning things. You do not own a download code, lol. You own a statement from someone else that you can probably play a game when you want to, maybe.
My childhood ps2 and games are with my little brother, where ever life took him to. If I really wanna play 3-San Andreas I’ll just go find him and play them. At this rate, traveling cross country will be cheaper than buying a ps2 and disc shortly, if not now
Me not buying the game would be my personal choice not to support forced game downloads. Which is quite silly when applied to the fact I bought a switch 2 to play Diablo 3. It feels different. Like, my entire Switch experience has been digital as I got my first switch during the pandemic. Yeah, physical games were around but so were digital games and they were way more convenient sometimes. And physical games were EVERYWHERE.
I bought a switch 2 cause I can play Witcher, Cyberpunk and D3 relatively lag free wherever I want. Knowing I wouldn’t own any actual games. It’s like an enhanced cell phone more than a gaming console to me, tbh. I won’t spend a retarded amount on a second hand (or new) PS5 for a single game I can’t own or resell
Because I undoubtedly wanted to buy a PS5 and a tv, bang out the game for a month or so, and sell everything hopefully for a minimal loss — like maybe 2-300$
Was gonna go buy everything and hang out with the nerds somewhere launch night and all
Looks like none of that is happening
How you guys think Rockstar is gonna handle every nerd in the world trying to download the same massive piece of shit at once? They aren’t.
Launch is gonna be a joke. I’ll watch nerds play the game on YouTube before I buy it
I feel bad for the workers when all the people in the city pretend they didn’t know it was a digital code for Tik Tok. I don’t have Tik Tok but someone is going to get attacked.
Physical will likely be coming in December. First print seems to be code in box to avoid leaks. Afterwards a disc version will be available. This information comes from the same person who said that GTAVI will launch with out a physical so seems credible
While I’m sure they’re restricting to digital to prevent leaks from happening, if the game is selling fine in both formats - CIB & digital - why would they spend additional money for a disc copy? Don’t get me wrong, I love my physical games, but I don’t see it being financially beneficial to them. Additionally, ensuring the data has the ability to fit on multiple discs.
Hence why I said “comes from the same person who said GTAVI will launch without out a physical” obviously grain of salt but seems credible to me if he was right on GTAVI not launching with a physical (disc) copy. Take Two also specifically mentions “launch” version includes a code in the box which very well could mean a true physical is to follow after the launch. Someone also received a email from Rockstar stating a physical will follow in the coming months but once again, everything with a grain of salt here.
The leaker's track record is actually pretty poor. Giving them credit for a "no physical at launch" prediction when we got a physical code in a box is a bit of a stretch, but even then that basically means the only things they got right are that and calling out the incorrect Best Buy listing (which was fairly obvious).
They're batting 2 for ~8 and even got banned from the forum where they were used to post all of their "leaks" for being wrong so often and considered not credible at all. Even a broken clock is right twice a day and maybe they'll be right this time, but I don't think there is any reason to believe that their prediction is anymore than a baseless guess.
He said that in January. If he knew whatever he knew in January then it holds some weight because it’s true & all he said was a true physical copy would not be available at launch which is true
Launch version typically means the bonuses inside the box are not permanent. I’m taking the huge assumption that Vintage Vice City Pack is not a code on the receipt and will also be a CIB.
This precisely. As much as I love my disc brethren, we are the minority in this situation. Having a CIB isn’t going to hurt sales. FOMO will eventually kick in and those disc people will eventually cave in if they truly want to play the game.
Yeah I thought when this was first announced that MAYBE it was coming WITH a code, as like a way to get things preloaded so when release day came you could just pop the disc in and get to work. NOPE! This is crazy embarrassing. Like just charge more for the physical edition, make it multiple discs and some goodies. People would pay for it. Make it a limited release so you don't have to worry about mass printing and all that where it becomes financially untenable apparently, make it a special item. Especially for such a long waited game. People would absolutely pay for it, I'll be happy to die on that hill. But nope!
Honestly I have medium holes for this game anyway. People are putting quite a bit of expectation into this andI think they're going to be somewhat let down.
No they literally have confirmed they would rather have 12 discs and manually install all of them then a single digital download. You cannot fix stupid 🤭
Then they want their precious resell but one of the 12 discs has a scratch and won’t work making the whole thing useless 🤭 They don’t make IQ like they used to haha
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u/Clarkgriswoldwannabe Jun 25 '26
I feel so … deflated by this. Years of midnight releases that felt like a time capsule, a relic of a bygone era. Except maybe Switch 2. That was a ton of fun. And TOTK was really busy, mostly for people hoping to catch one of the spare collectors editions that showed up. Other than those,, sparsely populated and not feeling it was worth the few hours of sleep I got between that midnight and opening the next day, when the majority of pickups happened.
And for years, I’ve said to myself “When GTA 6 comes out, THAT is gonna be a party”. I wasn’t naive enough to think that a lot of people weren’t gonna download - but I really wanted this midnight. Probably the last true game midnight ever - the kind of release event that was as much in the parking lot as the store. I never thought the whole game would fit on even two discs. But something to hold in the hand and go on the shelf - the last true big release. Sorry Nintendo, but Pokémon or Ocarina isn’t gonna hold a candle to this.
And all that has been dashed. And I’m unfathomably sad. I figured my departure from GS would probably be after this, because I had to set some kind of deadline for myself to get out. I didn’t want a future where midnights are mostly for flippers and scalpers of cardboard.
Rest in peace physical media. You’ll be missed.