According to PPE's Graczdari, sources involved in physical game distribution in Europe have been told that Rockstar Games and parent company Take-Two Interactive want to avoid early copies of the blockbuster title surfacing ahead of release, and so the studio is considering launching GTA VI in a digital-only format.

If accurate, GTA VI would be available digitally on consoles first, with boxed copies arriving later, as Rockstar reportedly focuses on reducing the chance of leaks finding their way online.

However, reports on the timing of a physical release are mixed, as some sources have suggested discs could follow three to four weeks after launch, while others claim the wait could stretch into 2027.

More clarity is reportedly expected by mid-February, though neither Rockstar nor Take-Two has commented publicly.

While the idea of skipping a physical launch would be a major shift for one of the biggest franchises in entertainment, it reflects wider industry trends.

Digital sales now dominate console gaming, and high-profile releases are increasingly vulnerable to leaks due to early retail distribution.

Rockstar, in particular, has a long history of tightly controlling information around its flagship titles.

The report lands amid continued uncertainty over GTA VI’s release window.

The game has already been delayed twice - first from late 2025 to May 2026, then to November 2026 - and Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier has recently warned that another delay into 2027 remains possible, citing unfinished missions and ongoing polish.

Even so, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has said he is “highly confident” in the current November 19, 2026 date, while acknowledging that extra time is sometimes needed to ensure quality.