GTA 6 Physical Copies Will Contain Codes Instead of Discs

Grand Theft Auto VI physical copies contain codes, GameSpot reports, forcing players to prepare for a massive digital download. The upcoming November launch is only a few months away, and players are already calculating how much space they will need to clear on their consoles. Because there is no physical disc to read data from, every player on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S will have to download the entire game to their local storage.

According to GameSpot, the realization that the game is download-only has prompted intense discussion about the potential file size. Following a recent preview of the game on Netflix, players have raised questions about how many gigabytes they will need to transfer. Rockstar will allow players to preload the game a week before launch, which may prove necessary for those with slower internet connections.

Speculation Points to a Massive Footprint

On the ResetEra forums, a poll revealed that a majority of participants expect the final install size to land between 100GB and 250GB. GameSpot noted that this estimate is highly likely to be accurate when looking at Rockstar's previous releases and the general trend of modern game sizes. Red Dead Redemption 2, which launched in 2018, already required between 105GB and 150GB depending on the console platform. In the years since, game files have grown significantly larger as developers utilize the high-speed solid-state drives of modern hardware to build more detailed environments.

With physical retail boxes only offering a download code rather than a physical Blu-ray disc, console owners will have no way to bypass the download. Players on both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S will need to audit their storage drives to ensure they have enough free space before the preload window opens. The week-long preload period suggests Rockstar expects servers to face heavy demand as millions of players attempt to download the massive file package simultaneously. Those with slower internet connections may need multiple days to complete the transfer before the game officially unlocks.

The transition to a download-only format marks a shift for players who prefer physical media. With boxed copies containing only a code, players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S must rely entirely on their internet connections and storage drives. GameSpot highlights that the sheer detail of modern titles has driven file sizes upward, making a large footprint inevitable for Rockstar's next release as it leverages the power of modern hardware.