So gamers…how are we feeling about Grand Theft Auto VI’s “physical edition” surprise? With our next trip to Vice City now available for pre-order, the news of a disc-less box has certainly given fans something to talk about on the internet. And apparently that conversation is about to change, as Rockstar’s further details on the matter reveal that yes, there will be actual physical copies of GTA VI. But, as any trickster god will tell you, there’s a catch.
Grand Theft Auto VI Will Be Available On Disc…Eventually
Responding to a request that Vice sent to their official support team, the Grand Theft Auto publisher had additional details to share, pertaining to a traditional physical release. While there’s still room to flesh out some further particulars, their initial follow up on the matter comes from this brief statement:
Please note that the current pre-order is indeed just for a digital-only update; you will be able to acquire a physical copy [in] the following months.
The bright side here is that GTA VI will be pressed onto discs, and on shelves, just like us fans experienced when Grand Theft Auto V made its way to us in 2013. So a little bit of patience would appear to be the solution to those who want a box that doesn’t just contain a download code.
At the same time, “in the following months” is a pretty broad window of time to put on the board. With Grand Theft Auto VI‘s impressive trailer already on the books, in addition to a handful of release date delays, this is akin to asking a niche of fans to wait even longer. Again, there could be other potential contents of the “physical edition,” as there has been with past releases.
Taking another step further, this new wrinkle seems to hint at a practice new to the gaming world is on the horizon. Though if you’re a movie collector, you’re probably putting the pieces together already on where things are going.
Will Digital First Game Releases Become The Norm?
Score another win for those of us who miss procuring physical copies at brick and mortar midnight releases. Much as we see with the release of Hollywood films to streaming and digital before disc, Grand Theft Auto VI may be the test case for using such a tactic in the AAA gaming market.
At least those picking up the code-only “physical edition” will be able to do so on November 12th – the day that GTA VI pre-loading will be online. But a potential months-long wait for anyone who wants an actual disc is reminiscent of how movie studios now stagger the release of their theatrical releases in home entertainment.
That question grows even greater when taking into account how anyone who pre-orders the new Grand Theft Auto will also have access to GTA+’s library of Rockstar Games classics. Does that platform’s existence mean we could see future titles hit GTA+, then digital, followed by a final physical release? It would certainly explain why these preorders are going to include a month of that very service for free, regardless of which edition you choose.
While there are some big questions here, we shouldn’t disregard the fact that Grand Theft Auto VI is finally in the home stretch. So if you’re ready to return to Vice City, you can pre-order your ticket to ride today – with November 19th being the official release date in question. In the meantime, to know the high score on what’s new in the gaming world, stick with THS Gaming News for all of your reporting needs.
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