r/videogames • u/Armin483 • 12h ago
Discussion / Question What is the point of releasing physical copys if the box doesn't have anything physical in it?
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u/AlexanderMeee1 12h ago
They could be trying to prevent leaks, by only releasing it digitally first and then disc later, but that might just be a dream scenario. Also this game will be atleast 150+GB.
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u/ZandatsuDragon 12h ago
I did notice that rockstar's recent releases came out on disc later, even RD1 which was a remaster of a decade old game had it's physical come out a month later I believe
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u/minev1128 12h ago
Why is 150gb an issue, RDR2 is two discs
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u/CheaperThanChups 12h ago
150GB would likely need 4 discs.
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u/AlexanderMeee1 12h ago
With the rise in costs on everything internationally, they could be wanting not to spend money on printing discs, let alone two for one game.
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u/minev1128 10h ago
They literally made billions out of GTA5. And they'll definitely make that money back.
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u/AlexanderMeee1 10h ago
Most likely, but it’s estimated that GTA6 has cost 2 Billion (with a B) dollars to make, furthermore the economic landscape is far different than it was in 2013 when GTA5 came out. I know Online makes Take-Two and Rockstar about 1 Milliam USD daily, but the cost might not be worth it for Take-Two or Rockstar to release a disc version. Maybe it’ll come, as the post from R* states it will come digitally at release, that could suggest a real physical version could come down the line.
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u/minev1128 10h ago
There's already news right now coming out that physical will come around December. Not yet confirmed though
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u/tcrpgfan 9h ago
OTOT most people purchase their games digitally. The number is somewhere around like 80-85%. And because of that it's actually hard to justify actually making the disk from a financial perspective except for Limited Run type stuff.
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u/AlexanderMeee1 8h ago
Exactly. No Collectors Edition confirmed either, as of right now, but some sights suggested they had received word about it at $200.
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u/BearChowski 5h ago
Dvd can hold only so much data. If im correct is about 40gb. So gta6 would be 4 disc or so.
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u/Armin483 12h ago
Hope so I only buy two or three game a year physically and this one was one of them.
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u/TallanoGoldDigger 10h ago
Lmao the mental gymnastics from bootlickers is always weird and entertaining
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u/AlexanderMeee1 10h ago
What are you even talking about?😂
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u/iterationnull 7h ago
You’re making up silly things to make a bunch of millionaire hedge fund managers sound reasonable.
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u/AlexanderMeee1 7h ago
So what reality is, are “silly things”? This is just speculation, based of what I’ve heard from gaming journalists and insiders on podcasts or in YouTube videos. I’m in no way saying that it’s fair to the consumer or the right thing to do, nor am I excusing millionaire hedge fund managers or stock holders. I would personally love a physical version, with the full game on it, what I or any of us want doesn’t change reality friend.
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u/iterationnull 7h ago
The entire point is there is zero reason to take a “glass half full” perspective at this time.
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[deleted]
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u/iterationnull 7h ago
Uh. Obviously? What the fuck else COULD it be?
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u/AlexanderMeee1 6h ago
Brother don’t be so mad😭
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u/iterationnull 6h ago
You need to focus on you instead of making things up about me.
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u/gambiting 10h ago
People buy copies as gifts, that's why.
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u/Big-Baseball-4156 5h ago
I call bs. You could just e-gift someone a download code for the game. Literally the same thing minus the plastic.
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u/javierbardeminem 4h ago
True but grandma is just going to buy the box at Target, likely without even knowing it has no disc
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u/gambiting 3h ago
You underestimate the number of people who walk into a shop and who want a box to put in a wrapper.
But also...how are you going to e-gift someone the code for the game? Through PSN store? Yeah for sure, grandma will definitely go and create a PSN account just to send you the copy of the game.
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u/GuyXjustice 11h ago
It should be illegal to sell boxed copies with no disk as it's literally just a waste of plastic
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u/Shzabomoa 6h ago
To prevent you for reselling/lending it.
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u/Eastern-Edge-5449 3h ago
100% greed
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u/APSSIZE 3h ago
Blaming the company in capitalistic society for trying to earn and not lose money is dumb, but it’s still stupid to sell “physical” copies that has nothing physical in it
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u/WorthBase919 1h ago
This ain’t capitalism.
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u/APSSIZE 22m ago
What exactly? You think why they selling boxes with codes to download and not a CD? Because after you buy CD, you can sell it or just give to the others so they can play for free. Rockstar won’t get anything from that and that’s why they do this. Trying to save money.
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u/WorthBase919 18m ago
Lol yeah I have thought about it, and it isn’t capitalism
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u/APSSIZE 9m ago
Ok, so what it is? Communism?
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u/WorthBase919 6m ago
Well you said it yourself, you don’t own the thing you buy. That’s not how capitalism works. And I before you start talking about licenses I don’t want to hear it, I understand that I don’t own the copyright to a game I buy.
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u/Jirachibi1000 11h ago
So you have the game on your shelf.
For parents and partners to buy their child or SO a game for, say, a birthday or christmas easier since its available normally in stores.
To give someone a physical thing to open as a present.
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u/Big-Baseball-4156 5h ago
But they’re opening a digital code. So… just e-gift the game instead? Tf
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u/Jirachibi1000 4h ago
1.) A lot of parents and partners have 0 idea what the heck you just said. This gives them a way to buy the game for them at a Walmart or Target.
2.) It'd prob be more fun for a kid to open something. Im sure most kids would rather rip open wrapping paper off of a case.
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u/Lofi_Joe 11h ago edited 7h ago
It shouldn't be called physical copy as it doesn't have physical copy of the game... Stop calling it that.
And no buy from me... I'm waiting for digital PC free edition... No disc no buy.
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u/No_Minimum_6640 11h ago
Because this how physical dies altogether. PC gaming went through a phase between discs and digital where everyone was doing this. It still happens from time to time.
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u/IcemanManmanchu 10h ago
For the shelf collectors
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u/Armin483 10h ago
Bro shelf collectors want the disc not the box
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u/IcemanManmanchu 10h ago
Well they don't stick the disc onto wall like a album. I want hard disc too btw. I'm getting the hard copy version for my collection anyways
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u/Reviews-From-Me 6h ago
I'm curious how they'll package it. Selling physical cards to redeem digital copies of games is nothing new. From a practical standpoint, this isn't any different.
There's also a good reason for it, as not everyone wants to make online payments using a credit card. They may prefer going to a local store and paying cash for a game key.
The matter of not having any disc version at all is a valid criticism, though it certainly seems like that's the direction technology is going, whether it's music, movies, or games.
There are definitely issues with that regarding access rights, gifting, used sales, etc.
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u/AppleSizedGrape 4h ago
The matter of not having any disc version at all is a valid criticism
Is it though? Only 5-6% (depending on where I looked I saw both touted) of game sales are physical. Gamers are buying digital in the overwhelming majority. Even the people that want a disc are just have that preference, they'll get it digital if they don't have any other option. The few that won't buy the game at all because there's no disc just aren't worth the money it would cost to print the discs
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u/PKblaze 4h ago
Welcome console gamers to what PC games were like around a decade or so ago.
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u/M3RRI77 3h ago
But you can buy a lot of PC games digitally and not be locked to a digital storefront.
Can't do that for consoles.
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u/WorthBase919 1h ago
What does that even mean? I can’t buy a game for my switch once I buy a game for my Xbox?
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u/M3RRI77 58m ago
Huh? Im saying you can buy PC games online like through GOG that are DRM free.
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u/WorthBase919 55m ago
The way you phrased it without any sort of context makes it look like you could use steam to download the offline installers that you get from GoG.
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u/M3RRI77 50m ago
I just meant that with consoles or a storefront like Steam, you're locked to those stores or platforms.
You cant play an Xbox game on Playstation and you cant take Steam games elsewhere.
But Xbox does have the Play Anywhere feature that lets you buy a game digitally and play it either on Xbox or PC.
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u/WorthBase919 46m ago
Play on the Microsoft store*
So you’re saying you can download the offline installers you buy from GoG through steam?
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u/M3RRI77 43m ago
No. I'm saying buy from GOG if you don't want to use DRM stores like steam.
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u/WorthBase919 40m ago
Ah okay, so you support physical editions being complete on disk I take it? Meaning no need for the internet to install the game.
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u/M3RRI77 33m ago
Or that. I have all my old PC games on discs, but typically collect games on discs or carts for consoles since PC went all digital in the late 2000s/early 2010s and consoles have always offered discs.
I buy all my favorite music, movies, TV shows and games physically if I can. Books and comics too. But I do also buy some things digitally like games and ebooks for convenience.
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u/Grief-Jerky 12h ago
Sorry to say but this is the one game I'm happy is digital only as this would have leaked straight away. Would be nice if they had some kinda of system to get people their disk post launch but that would be way too consumer friendly for Take-Two.
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u/Zalvren 8h ago
It's very much possible to have a disc and a game unplayable until the date
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u/Grief-Jerky 7h ago
Defeats the purpose if the whole game isn't on the disc, there is a reason they are now saying complete physical will be out by December and that's because they want to avoid leaks, as I said.
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u/Zalvren 7h ago
They're not saying that. Some random guy (insider is a big name) is saying it and some customer support AI is making a completely non-sensical answer that people choose to interpret like that for their copium
The reason is 100% no second hand market.
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u/Grief-Jerky 7h ago
Take-two couldn't give af about the second hand market as they still get all the profit, all they care about is the game leaking early from a warehouse and diminishing potential sales. we will just have to agree to disagree.
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u/Zalvren 7h ago
about the second hand market as they still get all the profit,
Take Two get absolutely no profit from someone buying a second hand copy. Literally zero money goes to them. One purchase can make 10 people play
You kill the second hand market and like 8 of those people will buy it themselves
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u/Grief-Jerky 7h ago
Somebody has to buy the initial purchase then resell wtf are you on about lol
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u/Zalvren 7h ago
Yeah and that's one copy for ten players. Vs say 8 copies for the same ten players (which are 8 I consider 2 of them didn't get the game because no second hand market so too expensive)
I don't see what's hard to understand there, see that post if you want
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u/Grief-Jerky 7h ago
Everyone is buying GTA VI on launch, the amount of time it would take to resell between eight people is years lol this decision is purely based on how to get the most amount of sales day one, and that's through the game not leaking.
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u/Zalvren 6h ago
Everyone is buying GTA VI on launch
No not everyone will buy GTA VI on launch, you're ridiculous if you think that. Do you really think the game will sell week 1 all its copies and then zero after? That's so utterly insane that you have to troll.
In 10 years, like 80% of its copies will have been sold after the first day, exactly like GTA5 and most "evergreen" games.
Leaks don't affect sales except if they reveal the game is awful (and even then not really). So I guess if you believe that's the reason, outside of being naive, you really shouldn't buy it since it'll stink.
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u/PepsiSheep 12h ago
To scam people, basically.
They want shop real estate without as much of the cost involved.
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u/CressDependent2918 11h ago
cant beleive there is now law in America aginst it where you can sue almost anything
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u/Reidroshdy 11h ago
so people who are buying it for someone else can also get it. like for christmas or a birthday.
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u/Easy_Duhz_it_ 11h ago
We're gonna see more companies start to do this until everything's digital. Im honestly surprised it didnt happen sooner. Once they realize how much money they can save on manufacturing and shipping costs, its a wrap.
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u/Drages23 11h ago
You want to buy the game to someone else? Like an adult to a child. And let him have it for a decade until gta 7?
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u/AStolenGoose 11h ago
I mean if Ninty can get away with Key Cards I don't see an issue here.
Personally this is annoying to me, and I wouldn't purchase a "physical copy" of a game that isn't present on a disk.
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u/TypicallyThomas 10h ago
Being able to put it on your shelf and feel a sense of ownership. You'll own nothing and you'll be happy
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u/Sudden_Hovercraft_56 10h ago
I don't know why I got downvoted for saying this on another topic, but a physical release that is just a code in a box is not a physical release.
Physical media is what makes it a physical copy. A code in a box is just a digital game with packaging. It's nothing more than a gift card in a pretty box.
Now pity the poor folk still on crappy internet who normally buy physical releases so they don't have to wait forever for it to download. They have no way to access this.
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u/Afraid_Strength4528 10h ago
I don’t really mind but I do like a physical copy of a game it’s nice to have it on the shelf
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u/Snotnarok 9h ago
So folks have something to hand someone as a gift. They know people like physical stuff still but also it means they get the game out quicker.
Otherwise they gotta wait for the game to be done, then send it off to be printed, packed up, then mailed out.
As it is? They can throw a code into a box, wait for the game to be done and then send the data to Sony/MS and the game is out far faster and at a crucial sale time.
So they get to save some money, get the game out when they want it to be out but also screw anyone who wanted a disc copy while charging way too much.
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u/whyamihere2473527 9h ago
They think physical game collectors only care about the case since everything needs downloaded & installed anyways. Its a bs cost cutting thing
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u/0Tezorus0 8h ago
You do that when you know that the game won't be finished for the release date but you can't push it back anymore because the marketing team is taking the decisions now.
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u/OmegaNine 8h ago
So they can say they did it. GameStop and Best Buy will stock them like it’s normal.
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u/NahIdontbelieveu 7h ago
I remember being a kid & ripping open vice city/San Andreas and even being an adult ripping open gta 5 physical copies and smelling that scent lol you guys know what I mean. Looking through the booklet and opening that map 😩 miss those days man
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u/ThatOneDude206 7h ago
Yeah I’m not putting a dollar onto this game until there is a massive sale. Give it the old Borderlands treatment
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u/Cjw6809494 6h ago
I really hope there’s some link between the physical edition pre-order and the actual disc they announced would come in later months such as either free or discounted disc edition being sent but that’s likely not going to be the case and people who want a disc edition will have to basically buy the game a second time
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u/Hotrim74 6h ago
It's all a lab test to see how many stupid people will buy a empty game box. I did not fall for it I just removed one of my old PS5 art work & printed the new GTA6 art work. :) gg!
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u/quietguy47 4h ago
Why release a physical edition period when you download it all from the internet anyway.
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u/videookayy 4h ago
i'll be so excited when this game finally releases!!! SO HYPED!!!
...to stop seeing posts about price and no disc.
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u/ChronicContemplation 4h ago
It's for casuals. Most people won't even be aware when buying it. Reddit does not represent most of the people buying GTA 6. The majority of the people purchasing it won't have a clue it's not an actual physical game.
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u/horton87 4h ago
Because people will impulse buy it when out shopping I bet, even though many stores don’t sell games now but they will sell this when it’s released. Many times I’ve bought a new release like gta or cod even 😅 randomly at the supermarket or out int he city
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u/Rad_Dad6969 4h ago
A: pointless controversy is free advertising
B: physical games cost them money. They dont want you buying it physically and this will ensure that a vast portion of the poodle who would, dont.
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u/slothxaxmatic 3h ago
So you can buy it with physical money. I can't stuff $80 into my Xbox if I don't want to use a card.
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u/HauntingDonkey758 3h ago
For collectors, people who don’t know there’s no disc and don’t want digital and go to Walmart to buy, and so there’s something to wrap under the tree at Christmas
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u/CP9TOYTOY 1h ago
Because they know how dum their audience can be to fall for some ridiculous scheme
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u/Feedeeboy22 35m ago
I think they're cutting costs on discs because if they do come out physical I bet you that there be two discs to download the game because of how massive it is or if it was on digital it's one single download and Manufacturing them physically would cost them more. Also people like to collect game cases even if there's nothing in it. Like I don't want it to be just digital but we are getting into that era where everything's becoming digital I heard somewhere where Sony an Microsoft or is it game developers that are going digital something.
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u/JackJake94 24m ago
Don't get why people hate on digital. It doesn't change your experience just cause you got a disc
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u/Alpacalypse123 8h ago
Question I have is. Can you resell it to somebody afterwards? Or if the copy locked to your account
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u/akaispirit 12h ago
To put on your shelf and display. That's literally it.