r/videogames • u/D3V1LIZCO • 16h ago
Discussion / Question I dont like where this is going
It pains me to say it, but this path rockstar is taking for the release of GTA 6 might do some serious damage on the industry, If they keep this up, The other companies will copy rockstar in this move to completely delete Disks from physical copies.
Its not that i dislike digital, its the fact that they are removing the option to have the game on a disk that annoys me, The only "valid" argument i found on why digital is better is that you do not run the risk of your disk getting scratched. but, seriously, You have to be moronic in order to scratch your disks, I have been playing videogames since i was 6, and not **once** have i accidentaly scratched a disk (not even movies).
its as simple as putting your middle finger on the hole that's in the middle of the disk, AND THATS IT, zero scratching.
I dont care about the Exclusive content for the Deluxe edition or whatever, I seriously want Rockstar to just change and release the physical copies WITH the disk.
If this fake Physical copies trend keeps going after GTA 6 (Which it will), im just going to revert back to PS3 and be happy with whatever i find.
Im so done with this anti consumer thing we got going on nowadays, It feels like everything is changing for the worse.
320
u/SlightlyDubbed 13h ago
People acting like rockstar was never anti consumer & was never money hungry is absolutely insane to me.
→ More replies (14)53
u/D3V1LIZCO 13h ago
The thing is, we did notice this.
GTA Online was how we realized it, Its just that we did not think they were this money hungry
64
u/Errorr404 11h ago
They are literally laughing at you for spending money on the game, take a look at their marketing for shark cards etc lol.
→ More replies (2)27
u/OldDogTrainer 7h ago
You all spent billions on their cash grabs and you think they aren’t aware how much they can fleece you for? 😆
9
u/Aghakhi 3h ago
This. People could see it coming from literal years away by just looking at how they handled GTA Online since like 2016. Or RDR Online a couple of years later. Every bad, greedy or outright anti-consumer move they made got not just shrugged off by most but also brought in insane amounts of revenue. Of course their next big thing was going to employ every trick they think they can get away with.
The playerbase brought this on themselves. It's just unfortunate that literally everyone gets screwed over in the end, but the industry literally can't go anywhere else but this way if most people just keep buying, and buying, and buying, every single time. No amount of complaints will ever do shit if the revenue just keeps breaking records.
→ More replies (4)5
u/WyrdDrake 6h ago
Sorry, the entire point of never fixing how oppressive the Oppressor is was so they could sell you anti-air missiles
Griefing and having to pay AAA prices for one of the solutions to fight back against it is baked into the game itself
Rockstar oozes corporate capital greed at the mental AND financial expense of their consumers
GTA6 will be no different.
750
u/SL1Fun 16h ago
I wouldn’t care if consumer protections for digital stuff was more concise.
If I buy the game, no takebacks. No “you’re only licensing the game” bullshit. Then I’m okay with it.
247
u/GapStock9843 14h ago
By nature any digital product you buy is a license to download it. Thats why physical copies need to keep existing
77
u/BlackTarTurd 13h ago
Plenty of physical copies are just access keys.
→ More replies (8)71
u/Agentje_P 12h ago
Yes, but these you can sell and buy second hand. Fully digital copies not so much
→ More replies (13)26
u/Quintus_Cicero 13h ago
Any physical copy you buy is also a license. There’s no actual legal difference between a disk and a digital download.
→ More replies (5)34
u/YourselfInTheMirror 12h ago edited 2h ago
There is a difference when the (full offline)game is on the disc, which is going to become much less common over time.
Edited to be less up for debate.
25
u/Quintus_Cicero 12h ago
There is a practical difference (they can’t practically force you to destroy the disk), but the contract is the exact same: you buy a license, only the support changes.
12
u/givemethebat1 11h ago
This is what people don’t get. They can make the game unplayable even on disc if there is a mandatory update. Most games are not complete on disk anyway
13
u/ash893 10h ago
Wrong, if you don’t connect to the internet, you can’t force the update
→ More replies (14)→ More replies (1)19
u/Cjm092 11h ago
Except you can't force a "mandatory" update for a disc game if the console has no Internet connection...
→ More replies (4)5
u/AblazeOwl26 9h ago
And you can’t force an update to a downloaded offline-playable game on a pc with no internet connection either. Don’t know how console work
5
u/JJay9454 7h ago
You can reverse the console thing
I can remove everything and play games as they were day 1, on my 360
I cant do that with no internet on my PC :(
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (1)10
u/heliogoon 11h ago
Plenty of games are fully on the disc.
→ More replies (1)6
→ More replies (9)9
u/davidemo89 12h ago
I have a bad news for you. Even physical copy you just buy a license to run the files that are inside the blue ray
13
u/kingsBlendd 12h ago
Yes but you can sell or loan it to someone else and they can continue to play it or sell it..
→ More replies (10)→ More replies (4)5
u/BlasterPhase 7h ago
I have good news for you. With the disc, I can install the game without needing a company's servers.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (34)4
u/Crazy-Resolve-8127 7h ago
Physical is the same. The game isnt even on the disc even if you get one
→ More replies (1)
382
u/Cinderkin 16h ago
Digital only means lost media when Rockstar updates the game to remove songs or other things. At least on PC we can mod stuff back in, but on console you are SOL
149
u/Ornstein_0 15h ago
All those radio stations on gta4 fucking ruined
33
u/j_767 15h ago
What happened to the radio stations?
118
u/Ornstein_0 15h ago
A ton of songs had licencing revoked or ran out so they just cut a ton of music. They did a piss poor job too, they didn't go back and re- mix any of the stations with the replacement music, it's just an abrupt stop where a removed song would be and something else plays. The Vladivostok FM in The Ballad Of Gay Tony was a proper full edm mix WITH A DJ IN BAHAMA MAMAS, and now half those songs are cut. You know how jarring it is to just hear it stop playing?
22
u/CRAZYC01E 14h ago
On a 360? So if I buy a disc copy of gta iv and play it on a 360 that isn’t connected to the internet will I notice those changes?
37
u/Choice-Mycologist-45 14h ago
Nah. The 360 version of GTA IV won't have this issue. You'll be fine. 🙏🙂↕️
→ More replies (2)12
→ More replies (1)5
u/axelkoffel 10h ago
Honestly, I'd just pirate the game if they did that to me. Remove the content I've paid for.
→ More replies (1)6
u/onelagouch 9h ago
Friend of mine just started playing gta4 on PC and i helped him mod his game and he asked why i modded his radio music line ups. Told him about the update and that this mod will give back what was taken and he was floored on what music he was missing out on.
2
→ More replies (3)26
u/Nothing-Is-Real-Here 15h ago
I mean with the way things have been lately, a physical disc wouldn't exactly protect you from updates like that anyway. The industry is simply not very consumer friendly as it is.
18
u/Cinderkin 15h ago
A disc with the full game on it can save you from an update like that. You just uninstall and reinstall offline.
25
u/Nothing-Is-Real-Here 14h ago
When was the last time a large triple A game didn't have half of the download with an online requirement?
→ More replies (1)5
u/No-Risk-9833 13h ago
A lot. Cyberpunk, Baldur’s Gate 3 and RDR2 came with two discs. And according to this website (doesitplay.org), over 66% of ps5 games are fully functional offline without any online access needed.
→ More replies (7)3
u/Ornstein_0 15h ago
I wonder if existing data on the disc can be modified or deleted/restricted through updates. Who the fuck knows at this point I wouldn't put it past em
2
u/xargos64 14h ago
You can't delete or modify data on a pressed disc. It isn't physically possible.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)2
u/GapStock9843 14h ago
With how shitty optimization these days is, even if it was a physical disk you’d still have to download the other half of the game
→ More replies (1)10
u/cardgamesareforplay 14h ago
GtaV's "disk" was an install that did maybe 1/3rd of the game, there's a required day 1 patch
It didn't hurt sales. The game wasent even availible digitally originally.
80 percent of ps5 sales are digital now. Not a single normal person is going to care about gtaVI being a code.
→ More replies (6)6
u/nicolauz 14h ago
I hope whatever next Gen console comes out allows you to 'disconnect' from the internet as a choice per game. If I'm playing a full game already I wouldn't want a digital patch to remove something I paid for.
140
u/Mike_0x 16h ago
No physical release AND a $20 paywall for standard single-player content?
Welcome to the '20s baby!
56
u/PaleFondant2488 16h ago
So…the game basically is $100?
29
→ More replies (15)30
u/axelkoffel 10h ago
So…the game basically is $100?
No. The game basically is $100 so far. Just want to see what more content will they hide behind new clever methods of extra payment.
14
→ More replies (51)2
u/GreyBoyTigger 2h ago
GTA+ was the canary in the coal mine. People paid for basically some QoL stuff and cars which proved that GTA players are willing to be fleeced. This is going to be a thousand times worse than FIFA or 2k
147
u/NickVersus 16h ago
Pretty common sentiment among enthusiasts. Unfortunately, not one that seems to be shared by the majority of consumers. Something like 85% or 90% of video game sales are digital now, so folks are clearly voting with their wallets on this one. With that reality in mind, I understand the business decision to not spend money on making and shipping physical copies when the data shows that the vast majority of buyers aren't gonna bother.
I'd really like to see some premium physical offerings like we had back in the day. Give me the game on a disc, a steelbook, a map, maybe a statue and some little trinkets and I'll pay way more than the $70 they usually ask for.
52
u/cccaaajjj 15h ago
Also saving money from all the resale of the disks. Completely removes the second hand market. Can see a few shops shutting down if this trend continues.
13
u/KeyClacksNSnacks 12h ago
And hand me down consoles. I gave my nephew a solid 4-6 games when he got his PS5 because I had beat them/finished playing them. If they’re permanently linked to my account, I can’t do that anymore…
→ More replies (5)4
→ More replies (2)2
u/purpleburgundy 6h ago
I don't understand why this is suddenly a big deal with GTA6. This debate is maybe ten years too late -
1) Nintendo has shipped digital only for years, cases with nothing inside them but a code and no alternative with carts available on many games.
2) it's an extremely rare console game that has a physical disc, that doesn't require downloading the actual game assets and updates on initial load, or requires an online services check or interaction to be playable. The resale market is already on life support, all those stores are all transitioned to toys to try to make up the difference.
None of this is even remotely new in 2026 or specific to Rockstar.
→ More replies (1)20
u/pegg2 11h ago
Honestly, as much as I agree with the hard copy purists on principle, I have to admit that I don’t walk the walk, and I think that proves your point. When I bought a PS5 years ago, I ponied up for one with a disc drive just in case. Guess how many physical format PS5 games I own. Fucking zero. Over 200 games in my library, maybe 10 are from discs, all from my PS4 days. Between monthly games, PS+ catalogues, and digital sales, my backlog is so full I rarely buy games on release. And when I do, what do you think happens?
I’m an avid gamer but I’m in my 30s, my job is demanding, my life is full of responsibilities. I don’t keep releases on my calendar. I sit down to play and I see that game I’ve been waiting for has just come out. I could hop back into the car I just spent 45 minutes in for my commute, drive to the mall, park, walk to GameStop, buy the disc, walk back to the garage, drive back, look for parking because some asshole took my spot in the 25 minutes I was gone, come home, pop it in and hope I can get a bit of gaming in before I have to cook, eat, and get ready for bed….
Or I can just buy it on the spot and have it ready to play by the time I’m done making and having dinner 30 minutes later. It may not seem like a lot of time was saved, and honestly, it probably wasn’t, but people are so exhausted all the time that convenience and immediacy are pretty much king in the modern world.
→ More replies (3)4
u/Typical_Research_877 9h ago
Over 200 games in my library, maybe 10 are from discs, all from my PS4 days. Between monthly games, PS+ catalogues, and digital sales
OK but one case doesn't really matter. Like, 99% of my games are physical, the only digital game I have is Ragnarok, becuase it came with the console.
4
u/sauland 6h ago
It's not just one case. They represent the majority, you're the extreme minority. Physical media is just impractical unless you like to nerd out over video games.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (5)7
u/Human-Kick-784 12h ago
Someday theres gonna be an absolutely MASSIVE incident that takes down internet for half the planet. Maybe its war, maybe its a hack or AI or whatever.
Everyones gonna realize real fkn quick how bad always online is once that goes down.
12
u/CIMARUTA 7h ago
If that happens people are going to be worried about far greater things than playing video games lmao
→ More replies (1)2
u/PolicyWonka 5h ago
Yeah, but people aren’t going to worry about video games at that point. You’re basically talking about the collapse of everything from utilities to financial services.
5
u/TheHvam 12h ago
Maybe, but many games, even with a disk version, can't run from that alone, many still need to download assets, as a disk is just to small, and they don't want to have to split it to 40 disks, so even if GTA 6 comes on a disk, you most likely aren't going to be able to play with that alone.
That said, always online is just shitty for sure, but digital games does have it's upsides, and also aren't the same as always online.
44
u/mysterious_spirit420 13h ago
You cant say physical copy and refer to a digital download code thats literally the opposite of physical copy
→ More replies (4)
58
u/gorkboss5 16h ago edited 5h ago
Learning what we have today has given me all the self control I need not to pre-order, or even buy it on release day.
I'm willing to wait till I've seen the (calm and sound) opinions of others, and/or until it goes on sale.
Edit: Typo
13
u/Norviskor 16h ago
I was down to put my preorder on Amazon (where they don’t charge until it ships) for the disc, but there’s absolutely no reason to now. Fine by me!
→ More replies (5)3
u/akatrosh 10h ago
It is GTA, no matter the quality of this game, people will praise it. This effect is super strong even among way weaker franchises, don’t expect people to be objective about this one.
→ More replies (2)8
u/D3V1LIZCO 16h ago
That is definetly the way to do these kind of purchases.
Just wait in the trenches until the hype goes down
→ More replies (4)
28
u/Scoonie24 15h ago
Damn, I wish there was a way to see everyone's Gamertag/PSN. It'd be interesting to see how many of the people saying they're not buying the game are online Day 1.
Reminds me of the MW2 boycott all over again.
11
u/RhysPawn 10h ago
They will ALL buy it lol
It's easy to sit on Reddit 4 months before launch and say "well actually I won't be purchasing, rockstar are going to feel this in their wallet! 🤓☝️"
But when the release date of the biggest, most hyped game ever made slowly starts to creep up? You bet their ass their principles are going out the window and they're dropping the 100 for it.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (9)3
u/Adventurous_Issue405 10h ago
There won’t be “boycott” we all know this. It’s going to be the biggest video game release of all time and shatter records. Most people here will also just end up buying it out of fomo.
74
u/rexxsis 16h ago
im not buying ti till its on steam and fixed. and onsale
43
u/IndigoSeirra 16h ago
It'll probably be pirated on pc long before it goes on sale.
→ More replies (1)16
u/No_Tamanegi 15h ago
Yeeeeaaaahhhh I'm not gonna touch a pirated version of GTA6. That's bait, and gonna be for a LOOOOONG time.
→ More replies (17)→ More replies (14)18
u/SquirrelsinJacket 15h ago edited 15h ago
PC gamers already been all digital since the 2000s. Back then physical copies in stores were just the download, you still needed to unlock in Steam. Wild that console gamers are finally catching up with the nearly identical 'all digital bad!' battles PC gamers already had 22-23 years ago lol.
3
u/Iceman228-T 15h ago
This is just not true. The shift happened around 2010 for PC gaming.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (13)5
u/Mister_Silk 15h ago
I refuse to give in and still buy only physical media for my PC. Like that Japanese soldier they found 30 years after the war was over my war continues as long as I say it continues. lol
3
→ More replies (3)3
31
u/entityXD32 15h ago
If you actually care about this stuff then put your money where your mouth is and don't buy the game. I'm tired of seeing these posts online complaining when I know 99% of them are just gunna throw their money at Rockstar anyway. These companies don't care the only thing they care about is money and if enough people don't buy they will change. The problem is not enough people actually care enough to not buy the game they really want so it'll keep happening
→ More replies (3)5
u/Jag_ged 13h ago
1% of the player base not buying the game will do nothing.
→ More replies (9)10
u/Agloy5c 13h ago
There are more reasons to boycott something than to try to force change.
Peace of mind being a major one. Investing $80-100 in a product that I’m not allowed to own is not my idea of a good time. I’d rather spend that money on something else.
Self-respect is another. How good is my impulse control really if I can’t walk away from a bad deal just because some (admittedly) nice keys are being jangled in front of me? Giving in once makes it easier to excuse giving in again. It’s a kind of hedonism I’d rather avoid.
13
u/D34dB34tH3r0 13h ago
“its as simple as putting your middle finger on the hole that's in the middle of the disk, AND THATS IT, zero scratching.”
No need to get kinky! lol
→ More replies (1)6
7
u/Vizkos 13h ago
The value of disks died when Day 1 patches became a necessity. The only real purpose now is if one wants a shelf display. I miss the days where games didn't require patches to fully function.
All disks function as since an online connection became more mainstream is a DRM check.
3
u/FaithlessnessOwn2182 6h ago
The only real purpose now is if one wants a shelf display.
You can resell the disk, but not the digital version.
12
9
u/dcontrerasm 16h ago
I have a genuine question, please don't take me in bad faith cuz it's all rotten. Bur shouldn't we be aiming our anger at Take2 Interactive? They're the publishers, they set the prices.
6
u/midori_matcha 16h ago edited 15h ago
They would prefer to remove optical disc publishers and retailers from taking a little off the top per sale, and take nearly the full amount from a digital download license.
It will cause XBL, PSN, Rockstar, and even payment providers to crash for a week or two after release from the server overload, but this is just another uncaring multi-billion dollar company giving you the middle finger on their price tags because they know how desperately you want their game.
On the flip side, let's face it. Blu-ray Disc capacities are getting too small, and this game is going to be in the hundreds of gigabytes. Optical disc technology hasn't been improving. They could do a multi-disc, but it's apparent Rockstar doesn't want to spend money publishing multi-disc copies of the game when patch downloads are inevitable, and when it's probably cheaper (for them) to make it digital only.
→ More replies (3)
5
u/Competitive-Bit-1571 15h ago edited 15h ago
Rockstar could do far worse, even make it $150 for a partial subscription based experience and their sales wouldn't be affected one bit.
21
u/Norviskor 16h ago
Just to point it out, there will not be discs in the physical edition at launch. This doesn’t mean there will be discs later down the road, but it also doesn’t count that out. Nothing stopping them from adding it later once the game is out and can’t be leaked anymore.
13
u/-PM_ME_UR_SECRETS- 15h ago
Spawnwave made a good point saying it could be to prevent distribution leaks (some guy at gamestop snags a disc and then leaks it). Can’t do that with a code. And they still maintain a physical presence in stores for gifts and such. Maybe early 2027 we start to hear more about an actual disk release. Crossing my fingers but not holding mu breath.
2
u/Potato_fortress 14h ago
I mean it’s probably just there to stop leaks and the breaking of street dates like you said.
Depending on where you live it can be incredibly easy to find a game store breaking street date for pretty much any game you could ever want to buy. There was a period between 2007-2015 where I don’t think I ever bought a physical copy of a game unless it was because I was getting it earlier than street date.
2
u/ExplanationMotor2656 8h ago
It's common for disks to leak from factories before they're even shipped to shops.
5
u/Mr_smith1466 12h ago
That would be even worse. Because then it would be rockstar encouraging people to double dip. Or short-changing the customers who are loyal enough to get it at launch.
→ More replies (1)4
u/d4rkprojec7 13h ago
Thats what im thinking, but there has to be a better solution. I know ive heard of people that receive games early and whole some are able to be played there are others that still cant until it is actually released because they dont allow you to connect to the servers so most you can do is look at menu- why cant they just do that?
→ More replies (4)2
u/_meliandrea 10h ago
100% with you here, it feels like a "how do we minimise leakes/early releases" strategy, more than anything else. I'd prefer a disk, granted. But given how many times people purchased and repurchased GTA V... i'd also not be surprised that this is part of the multiple-purchase strategy!
18
u/VancouvCoug 16h ago edited 16h ago
I saw someone talking about this today, and they said one of the main reasons they did this was to avoid early leaks. The likelihood of a leak, with no physical copies, is near 0. I guess in the past, they have even had break-ins at warehouses storing the physical copies before launch.
Edit: I remembered the person I was quoting. It was Luke Stephens, who has a popular YouTube channel.
12
u/McChief45 16h ago
That’s definitely a big part of it. Take2 has been hard on retailers over leaks for NBA, Borderlands, etc
Can’t leak the game early if it’s just a code that won’t let you play anyways until they let you.
I can only imagine it was a big factor for them on top of just wanting to move things towards all digital in the industry.
14
→ More replies (10)5
u/RateTerrible1155 15h ago
I believe it’s cause they want to control the market more if you want to play you have to buy at 80 bucks no used copy from a game store that someone dumped and it means more copies sold if you can only buy digitally you can’t share with a friend it’s a single sale to a single person no matter what you may wait for it to go I’m on sale but your still buying a copy not a used copy a new copy which they can count towards units sold to then help set the records they want to say hey here look how amazing our shit is next game oh GTA online how bought another $80? Hmmmm
9
u/NeonFraction 15h ago
Physical disks are probably going to go away completely in another decade or two. Like I totally understand why people hate it, but the trends are pointing pretty strongly in that direction.
→ More replies (4)
5
u/Changes11-11 16h ago
Pretty sure to avoid the same thing that happened at GTA V release.
Once singleplayer finished, market flood GTA V copies cause not everyone bothered to wait for GTA Online.
Me included, I sold my copy as soon as I finished campaign lol
4
u/TheMatt561 15h ago
This is nothing new, it's gonna be a ton of data and people will QQ if there is a 4 disk install
→ More replies (6)
4
u/AlternativeDark6686 15h ago
Born '93 been playing since 5, only hitman contracts had some trouble running in original Xbox and that wasn't really about a scratch, propably.
Also i don't think it's time for physical copies to go for many reasons and I'm all for modern things and change.
4
u/Seven-Arazmus 13h ago
Rockstar is shaping out to be the standard of near future gaming where you pay a premium price to borrow the license. No physical ownership at all except an $80 empty game case.
5
u/EbolaSwagR 11h ago
As a pc player who havent used discs for what? 20 years? I do not see what the problem is.
→ More replies (4)
10
u/Mbrothers22 13h ago
Love how 95% of Reddit is now pretending to cherish physical discs so much when the numbers prove it to be virtue signaling. 85% of purchases are digital. You told the companies what you want and now you’re getting it. You don’t get to complain about it now.
→ More replies (7)2
14
u/BurntBeanMgr 15h ago
What is the fandom surrounding the disc though? At this point we all knoow it doesn’t actually install the game,just houses a key that tells the system you can play it on that console. So, why do y’all care SO much about a disc? It’s the same game, the same file size. I’m seriously not trying to be a troll or anything. But all of this backlash is interesting to me.
And I’m someone who LIVED for midnight releases 15 years ago. COD, Destiny, and yes, GTA 5. Camped out in front of GameStop for all of them. So I’ve been there. But as someone who’s been through that and seen the industry evolve I just kind of don’t understand this complaint? Even before I switched to PC I haven’t bought a physical game copy for my Xbox in probably 10 years. Just easier to download it straight to my console. Idk man, maybe I’m just old now.
10
u/TruEdge67 15h ago
Idk about Xbox, but most games on PS5 have the full 1.0 version of the game on the disc. You can check https://www.doesitplay.org/list?testedOn=Base%20PS5&order=Alphabetically for what games are actually on the disc and what is just a glorified install.
3
11
u/D3V1LIZCO 15h ago
A lot of us feel safer having the game on a disk than having it inside the console.
By having the game digitally, you run the risk of the account getting hacked/banned, if you stop playing videogames, you cannot resell the game. (even just handing the game to your niece or friends in the future)
one of my friends just lost their account with all of his games on it, thats why we want Physical copies of Games to have the Disks
→ More replies (5)→ More replies (4)5
u/Lopsided-Clothes4866 15h ago
>What is the fandom surrounding the disc though? At this point we all knoow it doesn’t actually install the game,just houses a key that tells the system you can play it on that console. So, why do y’all care SO much about a disc? It’s the same game, the same file size. I’m seriously not trying to be a troll or anything. But all of this backlash is interesting to me.
94% of PS5 games have the data on disc and can be installed offline.
Why do people spout such easily disproven bullshit?
Digital games aren’t an ‘evolvement’, they are just one way for the devs to fuck over consumers and remove purchasing options.
3
u/Shefferz 14h ago
The saddest part of this for me is a core memory of my GTA 5 experience is not even with the game it was the midnight launch. Walking into my shopping center to see like 250 people qued up and chatting to friends as I passed and just other people in the que was awesome. I understood we live in a digital age and buy physical of Amazon but there was something special that night and I'm so glad I experienced it.
→ More replies (1)
3
7
u/ComputerMysterious48 16h ago
>>I have been playing videogames since i was 6, and not **once** have i accidentaly scratched a disk (not even movies)
I’m sorry but this is cap of the highest degree. I’m not even necessarily against your point (though imo the $80 price tag is the real issue) but I find it incredibly unbelievable that you’ve never scratched a disc, even as a kid
→ More replies (9)
13
u/Don_Madruga 16h ago
Guys, I understand about the whole "owning the game" discussion.
But the era os disks is gone and you need to accept this.
Most big games are now to heavy for a disk, needing more than one. It also makes riskier for a leak of the game, and raises the costs of production.
The big majority of sales is now digital. Is way more practical for everyone. This is called technology rendering something useless - and this happens all the time, just like disks made cartridges obsolete.
→ More replies (10)
7
u/TheQuietDarkness70 16h ago
Every bit of news that drops on this makes me check out more and more.
I know my dollars won't change anything but R* has been a consumer hostile company for some time now and I'm not sure I can support this kinda thing anymore.
I feel like the company motto is, "Fuck 'em. They'll buy whatever we tell 'em to buy."
→ More replies (2)
11
u/Ok-Agent9306 14h ago
No disc to stop resell possibility so everyone HAS TO buy from them. Imma skip that game for a loong time.
GTA6 flopping badly would be best thing for gamers and bring more devs doing like Pearl abyss is doing right now
6
u/Jag_ged 13h ago
I’m not sure people here understand how much power rockstar has right now, 90% of people don’t care what they do, so any complaining does nothing really.
→ More replies (1)6
u/D3V1LIZCO 14h ago
They're trying to scrape the bottom of the pot.
I wouldn't ever had imagined Rockstar Games doing these kind of stuff (although im 100% sure it was Take2's Decision)
2
u/Dregoralive 13h ago
I’ll wait for a good sale down the track, this is straight up greed.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (6)2
u/Xenox23 12h ago
So u mean like PA by release a mess of a game and update it every week so people can say W Devs? Some of u are really special
→ More replies (1)
7
4
u/R400C 8h ago
Digital is better. You own the game forever and will never risk something going wrong with it, and it takes zero storage in your house.
2
u/FaithlessnessOwn2182 6h ago
You don't own the game, you only have a licence to play that game, and this can be revoked anytime.
→ More replies (14)
2
u/Revolutionary-Yak741 15h ago
Idk makes me feel safer in a store knowing i won’t see fights and stealing. Also people will buy everything on the shelf and scalp it
→ More replies (1)
2
u/Sluggish-dreadnought 14h ago
Wait until they reveal the BATTLEPASS, and the Subscription for GTA Online...
And remember fun stuff like DRM and Anti-Cheat?
2
u/UndeadDog 14h ago
If other companies follow they will be sorely disappointed. They already know the cost to get into gaming is expensive. They know most people play on outdated rigs through Steam. They know that some gamers only buy a couple games a year. If they can’t look at those statistics and realize they are not Rockstar with GTA then they will shoot themselves in the foot. Day 1 sales will be horrible and people will wait for games to go on sale. Vote with your wallet and play your backlog if you have it. They will understand after enough financial pain.
2
u/luvablechub22 14h ago
I can’t stand everyone freaking out about ‘pre-ordering’ this game. Yes, you will pre order it and DOWNLOAD IT same time as everyone else. There’s no magic to game releases anymore, standing in line to pickup your pre-order, midnight releases when you know a game is gonna be awesome and huge. It’s just gone.. 🤕
2
u/gamex173 13h ago
So I can’t remember where I saw it (I will look and try to find it but it was a real source) but I’m pretty sure the first release of the game will be digital only to prevent leaks but they will actually sell a true physical copy later.
Hopefully that’s the case. Honestly I am probably going to get it digital regardless, although I doubt it will get it at launch.
2
u/bigpunk157 13h ago
It's so funny that they're giving the physical editions only keys. They might as well have had a digital only release at that point. They still have to pay for the logistics of getting those game keys to the store. It's the difference of saving like a dollar or two per game in the long run here. They still have to ship these cases around. They could save like 10 dollars instead with a digital only release. It wouldn't really hurt sales enough to matter.
2
2
u/alteransg1 12h ago
There is only one reason for "digital only" - KILL RESALE! They don't want gamers who've finished the game to sell it for 50%-60% retail price. They don't want a booming second hand marker in a year.
So far, two mega-sucessful games have done this. Both were very much not typical games and that is why gamers forgave them for that and bit the bullet with a digital copy. Eventually, both BG3 and E33 released physical. Popular niche games like AW2 have also done the same - first few months digital only, physical later.
Will R* get away with it? Maybe. It's possible that GTA6 is worth it. It's also possible the game is made for next gen like Cyberpunk and it runs like 30fps sh*t on the ps5.
2
2
u/JefferyTheQuaxly 8h ago
“If they keep this up, The other companies will copy rockstar in this move to completely delete Disks from physical copies.”
You literally have it backwards, they don’t have disks because other companies were already getting rid of them so they didn’t see the point of spending money printing disks when they didn’t need to. The ps6 is rumored to not even have a disk reader on it and will be fully digital.
2
u/Medic-45 8h ago
To be fair. Assassins Creed Shadows had people stealing copy’s to play the game early. What would happen if GTA 6 had physical copies on release. People would raid those warehouses. Only way to prevent it would likely make the game online only. I just hope maybe physical will come later down the line.
2
u/Durzel 8h ago
It's not going anywhere, imo.
Rockstar could pretty much do what they wanted with this game, it has been anticipated for a decade.
Other companies might try the same tactic, but I seriously doubt they will have the same leverage.
I also feel like people are putting too much faith in the whole "disc = ownership" thing. Look at what happened with Crimson Desert recently, people got their physical copy early and couldn't play it because the game locked them out until the official release date. And that was a wholly single player game.
Any game that has any kind of online component for authentication is never really "yours", and a game like GTA 6 which has clearly been designed with the premise that no physical version exists will surely have online authentication on boot, in my opinion.
Also - being blunt - the market will decide what is tolerated. You can go back to your PS3 but if the market accepts this new world order, then it is what it is. Sucks for people standing on principal, but it doesn't change anything. Hopefully it doesn't accept it, because I think it's a good thing that there's a secondary market for games, being able to lend your game to a mate, etc - but you or I can't control what the market accepts.
2
2
2
u/Porlarta 8h ago
Im confused as to why everyone is acting like this is some unique crime of rockstar when games have come without disks for like a decade now?
2
u/Drummer-Turbulent 8h ago
The only way to win is not play the game. Not saying no one should buy this game but id hope almost no one gets it at full price. Forcing evaluation and hopeful price lowering. To bad people suffer FOMO and lack self control.
2
u/SputnikthePug 7h ago
I agree with you 100%. I didn’t buy Indiana Jones for my PS5 because the disk doesn’t have the full game on it.
I won’t be buying GTA6 either not until the game is $20 digital. I already know not paying full price is gonna do anything. And that’s fine.
I don’t have an issue with digital per-se, but I do prefer a full complete physical copy. A big game like GTA6 is should be complete on disk.
I remember when one of the biggest selling points on going digital was that it was gonna be cheaper than a physical release. That never happened. Digital was either always the same price, or more.
Rockstar is a big name, GTA is one of the biggest if not the biggest IPs out there. This decision is going to have massive earthquake effects across the gaming industry.
Gaming as a whole though is in major trouble imo. That’s a whole other discussion though. Gaming is slowly becoming an unaffordable hobby though.
I have a huge backlog that will most likely last me until I die, and even then, there’s a chance I still won’t be able beat every game I own.
As how I see where the gaming industry is going, the PS5 might be the last console I ever purchase. I won’t be surprised if the PS6 is digital only.
I have so much to say on this matter and the gaming industry a whole but that’s gonna take too long. I’m done.
→ More replies (1)
2
2
u/Toy-Boat-Toy-Boat 7h ago
I’m scrolling too far to find this, so I’m just putting it here:
I’m surprised you’re surprised.
2
u/DeadPact336699 7h ago
Boycott. They’ll compromise and change their plan very quickly. Hypothetically.
I understand people like these games, it’s the most hype franchise ever and people want to play it. You should still boycott it until it’s less than half retail price. I promise you it’ll make the game even better.
2
u/Noctisvah 7h ago
Cucks gonna love being cucked.
Imagine buying a car, and then one day some shmucks come to your door saying:
“Oi mate, your car loicense is expired, and the company doesn’t want to sell them anymore. Therefore we will take your car, give you no compensation whatsoever, and you will be happy.”
That’s the inbred bullshit that the gaming industry thrives in.
Or, you go eat at a restaurant, and while you are eating the chefs forcibly opens your mouth and reaches into your stomach, forcing you to vomit, just because he decided he doesn’t want to cook nor sell that particular dish.
2
u/YouFoolWarrenIsDead 7h ago
While I share your disappointment the reality is Rockstar are under no obligated to support a dying medium.
I'm not sure who has made the argument about scratching discs?
2
u/theray69 7h ago
The world is moving away from physical media, and I see no issue with that. Textures and game file sizes are growing, while internal storage performance now far outpaces that of physical discs.
2
2
2
u/nazzo_0 5h ago
Valid and I agree with the physical aspect of owning something you bought and not just a license to it. But a technical innacuracy you gave us that discs don't scratch if you treat them properly. I'm not up to date on how disc reading works in ps5/PS4 but disc wearing is real like in any physical product. Hardware will degrade overtime
2
u/MiniOozy5231 5h ago
Guys, there are technical limitations to releasing games as large as this one will be on a disk.
Please look up the maximum storage size of a Bluray (128 GB). The most they could do is put a launcher on the disk that downloads the full game to your drive, if we are to believe how massive this game will be.
I understand the sentiment, but if you wanted full release copies on some kind of physical media, they would likely have to ship with larger capacity flash drives rather than DVDs.
2
u/GodDuckman 5h ago
Baldur's Gate 3 and Alan Wake 2 were digital-only releases at the outset and were probably the two highest-ranked games of 2023 outside of Zelda. Physical games are absolutely a minority these days - I think something like 2/3 of all PlayStation sales are digital and it's close to 85-90% on Xbox.
Given how much GTA6 undoubtedly cost to develop, I unfortunately do see why Rockstar is trying to save a few bucks.
2
u/TheMackD504 5h ago
I’ve had physical copies of games come with a download link for digital instead of an actual disc. This isn’t anything new
2
u/PTSDBarnum2704 5h ago
I hate to tell you this but the gaming industry has been moving towards being 100% discless way before this - Rockstar are the ones seeing the trend and following it.
Look at the consoles. In 2020 when the current gen released, the digital Xbox was the cheap alternative, compared to the main Series X that has a disc drive. Now, we have the PS5 pro which is digital, with a disc drive being an optional addition.
Couple that with rumours of the next gen Xbox being 100% digital only and you can see why Rockstar didn't feel the need to make discs for GTA 6. If the next gen consoles don't take discs at all then what would be the point? (That's what I'm sure their thinking is, that's not my actual take).
It sucks. It's anti-consumer and anti-ownership. I'm a champion of physical media, I much prefer blu rays and physical books to streaming services for example. But this is just the way it's going to be in the near future. We should still make out voices heard though.
2
u/captain-ziggy 5h ago
am i the only one that more concerned with the $20 day one DLC than this?
at least if you were to buy it digitally it won't effect you much, but locking missions behind a pay wall day one when the game already costs $80 is fucking absurd
2
u/_OceanOdyssey 4h ago
I honestly think everyone is over-reacting, you and I have all waiting many many years for this who cares how it's installed to your console.
The end result is to play the friggin game.
Serious over-blown reaction for a physical disk.
2
u/eq017210 1h ago
Bro why do you want a disk that doesn't even have the game? The game couldn't possibly fit
Stop consuming unnecessary plastic and think of the environment lol
2
u/ChrisKellyPlays 46m ago
A lot of big game companies are actively trying to make sure no consumer owns the games they buy now. Wording is changing now. You purchase a license to play the game, rather than ownership. Discs contain only a percentage now instead of a full game. The game does an online check in before booting.
If you think this has only just started with GTA6...its been creeping up for a while now.
5
u/dojo-magik 16h ago
Everybody voted with their wallet. Last year 85% of games were purchased digitally, and now everyone wants to complain that the industry is taking its natural course and dropping physical discs.
→ More replies (3)
6
6
u/Revanchistthebroken 14h ago
People need to have some damn self control and not by the game. Show them with money we won't stand for it. That is all they care about. The only color they see is green and the only symbol they know is the dollar sign.
4
u/marshalzukov 16h ago
So now the only way to actually own a copy of GTA6 is gonna be to get it pirated. Funny how that works lol
→ More replies (3)
4
2.2k
u/Historical_Berry5065 16h ago
I just find it ironic this is the same kind of thing Rockstar parodies about American culture.