The GTA 6 no disc controversy does not worry the analysts: they believe it will not affect sales

The decision of Rockstar has generated debate among players, but experts believe that the game's success is guaranteed.

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The confirmation that Grand Theft Auto VI will hit stores in box format but without a disc has sparked a strong reaction among part of the community. Many players have expressed their disappointment upon discovering that physical copies will only include a download code, effectively eliminating some of the traditional advantages of physical format.

However, industry analysts believe that this controversy will have a minimal impact on the game’s commercial performance. In fact, they consider the GTA 6 phenomenon to be far above any discussion related to physical support.

Experts believe the absence of a disc won’t slow down GTA 6

One of the most well-known analysts in the market, Mat Piscatella, from Circana, has pointed out that Grand Theft Auto VI won’t be the first major release to hit stores without a physical disc. According to him, this practice has been growing in the industry for years and it’s becoming increasingly common to find box editions that only contain a digital code.

For Piscatella, most consumers have already gotten used to this model. Additionally, he recalls that sales of disc-less consoles continue to increase generation after generation, especially on Xbox Series, where fully digital versions represent a growing part of the market.

The trend also reflects a broader change in consumer habits. Digital purchases continue to gain ground over traditional formats, something that has accelerated in recent years thanks to digital stores, subscriptions, and online services.

Although a part of the gaming community still defends the classic physical format, analysts believe that the hype surrounding GTA 6 is so enormous that the absence of a disc will hardly affect its results. After all, we’re talking about one of the most anticipated releases in video game history, with millions of pre-orders expected from day one.