The moment many thought would never arrive is here. Rockstar Games has confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6, arguably the most anticipated title in video game history, will launch as a digital-only release. No disc. No cartridge. Just a download. The decision, announced in a terse press release this morning, has sent shockwaves through the gaming community and prompted urgent warnings from British tech experts that the physical format is breathing its last.
For Julian Vane, a former Silicon Valley innovator now turned London-based advisor on digital ethics, the move is both predictable and troubling. 'This is the final nail in the coffin for disc-based gaming,' he says, speaking from his home office surrounded by screens. 'But it raises profound questions about ownership, access and the digital sovereignty of consumers. When you buy a disc, you own something. When you download, you merely hold a licence that can be revoked.'
Rockstar has not revealed file sizes, but leaks suggest GTA 6 could exceed 150GB. For many in the UK, where broadband speeds vary wildly from gigabit-capable city hubs to rural areas still reliant on ADSL, this creates a two-tier system. 'We are sleepwalking into a digital divide,' warns Vane. 'Those with poor internet will either wait days to play or be priced out entirely. That is not just a user experience failure; it is a social one.'
The announcement follows a decade-long trend. Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro launched without a disc drive. Microsoft’s Xbox Series S is digital-only. Physical game sales in the UK fell 25% year-on-year in 2024, according to UKIE. Yet GTA 6 is different. It is a cultural event. Its release will define the next console generation. By going download-only, Rockstar is effectively telling the market that discs are obsolete.
But Vane cautions against celebrating the convenience. 'We need to talk about digital ownership in plain English,' he says. 'When you ‘buy’ a digital game, you are actually buying a licence. That licence can be changed, removed or restricted. Imagine if your copy of GTA 6 was suddenly unplayable because a server went down or a rights dispute emerged. With a disc, you have the data. With a download, you have a promise.'
He points to recent examples: Sony removing purchased TV shows from libraries, Ubisoft shutting down online-only games, and the ongoing battle over right-to-repair. 'The disc is a physical guarantee. Download-only is a trust exercise. And trust in big tech is at an all-time low.'
There are also environmental costs. While discs require plastic, manufacturing and transport, digital distribution relies on vast server farms that consume enormous energy. 'The narrative that digital is greener is simplistic,' says Vane. 'Data centres create e-waste and carbon emissions. A disc can last decades. A hard drive might last five years.'
For collectors and preservationists, the loss is existential. 'Libraries, museums and historians rely on physical media to archive culture,' notes Vane. 'If GTA 6 only exists as code on a server, what happens when Rockstar decides to delist it? That is not just a game disappearing; it is a piece of art, a social commentary, a time capsule.'
Rockstar has not ruled out a future physical release, but insiders suggest the company is fully committed to digital-first. The move aligns with Take-Two Interactive’s strategy to cut production costs and combat second-hand sales. But for Vane, the decision is emblematic of a broader issue. 'We are handing control of our entertainment to corporations in exchange for convenience. That trade-off needs to be debated openly before it becomes irreversible.'
As the countdown to GTA 6 begins, one thing is clear: the disc era is ending. Whether we are prepared for what comes next is another matter entirely.
