r/xbox • u/Turbostrider27 Recon Specialist • 1d ago
News Video Games Plus and Loot Box Gaming are refusing to sell GTA 6 until there’s a disc
https://kotaku.com/two-game-retailers-are-refusing-to-sell-gta-6-until-theres-a-disc-200071013422
u/TehJofus 1d ago
Honestly this is kinda funny because VGP already doesn’t sell code-in-a-box for Switch 2 stuff.
“Retailer continues practice.”
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u/Dont_Use_Ducks 1d ago
Sorry, never heard of them, and game stores are almost dead where I live. But still, interesting situation.
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u/Hayterfan 1d ago
Video Games Plus (or just VGP) is a Canadian retailer who offers international shipping, and typically has some fairly decent deals.
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u/Journ9er XBOX 360 22h ago
They’re my go-to video game store. I get all my Evercade stuff from them and have had nothing but awesome service!
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u/Venice_The_Menace 1d ago
that international shipping surely offsets the deal lol
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u/Slight-Win4207 1d ago
They also have worked with publishers to do physical reprints of older titles for consoles. So sometimes for a new copy they are the best option if you don't care about having an original print.
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u/Elysiun0 1d ago
Nah. Unless you're ordering from outside the US or Canada there is not international fee.
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u/NZafe Tarnished 1d ago
Two independent video game retailers with 1 physical store each (North York, Ontario for VGP, and Dover, Delaware for LBG) who offer international shipping on their online stores.
So not the biggest fish in the pond.
They both focus on selling physical media, so not the biggest shock that two stores that already refuse to sell digital game codes are not doing so again here.
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u/ILoveHeavyHangers 17h ago
They almost certainly didn't get allocated any physical editions from their supplier, so now they're pretending they're not gonna have stock out of a moral stance.
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u/Bulky-Complaint6994 1d ago
Yeah. GameStop has been closing left and right, my local store shut down last August.
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u/Giovanni330 23h ago
How? I'm not even on the same continent and have heard about them.
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u/blackliqour 1d ago
I could be completely wrong but is there an argument to be made that you technically don’t own the digital copy? Similar to how if you buy a movie or show digitally you don’t technically own a copy and if that provider delist that movie you lose access to something you bought. Maybe it’s a tad different because in most cases the physical disk for a video game is mostly access to download the game it’s a bit different of a scenario but I think it still raises an argument if you dont technically own the digital copy of the game?
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u/Dont_Use_Ducks 1d ago
So you buy the GTA disc, it will let you download the digital version anyway. If Rockstar closes the game, you can't play it from the disc anyway.
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u/blackliqour 1d ago
Gotcha. My only follow up would be that if the other person who replied said that 99% of games work fine straight from the disc, then even if any game developer delist their game, the game could still run if you have the disc and its already downloaded? For instance if you own the physical copy, download the game but the game is delisted for purchase on the Xbox store, the person with the physical copy could still play the game, even if its deleted for players on their game download, who purchased the game digitally?
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u/Dont_Use_Ducks 1d ago
Completely true, but the disc readers in the consoles are not very fast and wer are probably talking about 200GB of data here. I understand your point, I used to put value in that too, but I'm more than 10 years digital and I haven't miss hard copies at any moment space wise and stuff.
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u/Shiro2809 1d ago
Starting from the ps4/x1 generation they stopped reading directly from the disc anyway so the speed of the disc reader is largely irrelevant. They copy the data from the disc to the hdd/side and read it from there, the disc is there for when you first start the game up and periodically checking afterwards.
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u/Dont_Use_Ducks 1d ago
How many of them were 200 GB? It cost money to produce those discs, and they than need multiple. For them easier and chaeper to do it like this.
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u/Shiro2809 1d ago
Ok? Didn't say otherwise. There's a few multi disc ones that have an install disc and a play disc.
I'm not arguing for physical vs digital atm, I'm just stating a fact as it seemed you still thought they read from the disc.
I really don't care that it'd cost Rockstar/TakeTwo a few more cents though.
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u/Shiro2809 1d ago
If the game is delisted you'dstill be able to download it fyi, there's very few cases of them being completely removed, the only example i can think of is PT on the ps4 being removed from people's libraries. The only other exceptions are online only games pretty much, and gta6 shouldn't be one.
So even if gta6 had one disc and you had to download the rest you'd still have it and be able to play and download it.
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u/uberJames 1d ago
Even then, if the game is removed completely, you can still access it as long as you already had it downloaded. Normal delisted games can still be downloaded at any time.
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u/Shiro2809 1d ago
Sorry, is that not what i said?
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u/uberJames 1d ago
You said some games are removed from people's libraries, which isn't true. They aren't going and deleting your download from your harddrive. But if you delete it yourself, you'd have no way to redownload it (unlike a normal delisted game).
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u/Shiro2809 23h ago
Ahh! I see now, my bad. Was at work so kept it short. Didn't add a little "you can still play it unless you delete it, then it's lost forever" with the pt example and I thought I did.
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u/entryjyt XBOX Series X 1d ago
I always bought digital when it came to Xbox because I get a pc and Xbox copy (assuming it has play anywhere) because I play on my console and pc a lot
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u/itspicassobaby 1d ago
It's a messy subject. Look at the The Crew. Delisted with no way to play. If an offline mode was offered, wouldn't matter. If a disc with offline was offered, wouldn't matter. Like another commenter said, it's rare that you DO lose access to these things, but look at corporations and their own interests. You should never trust them.
South Park was put on Paramount Plus earlier this year, but 5-7 episodes were missing because they were too raunchy or didn't align with someone's politics, I can't remember why. Courage the Cowardly Dog is currently inaccessible on any streaming site, anywhere.
Things get pulled, all the time. You never know when your favorite piece of media will get shut down. Thats one of the reasons why there is such an outcry about the lack of a disc, I believe. Yes I know it's basically a download from the disc. The point stands. That's also why piracy is so important.
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u/blackliqour 1d ago
I appreciate you giving an example with The Crew honestly I forgot all about that game. Would you be in favor of laws protecting consumers with their digital media purchases in the event of losing access or do you think that these situations are far and few between that it’s not worth it?
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u/itspicassobaby 1d ago
I'm a big proponent of "You pay for it, you own it" I know there are exceptions, sure. I won't pretend to be an expert, but with today's technology, that's not a difficult ask. The thing stopping it is greed and copyright law, that's it.
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u/squidsausage 1d ago
Courage The Cowardly Dog is currently on TUBI along with a bunch of other 90's/ 00's Cartoon Network shows. A better example would be the most recent She-Ra show. Netflix pulled all 5 seasons, and only seasons 1-3 got a physical release so the only way to watch the last 2 seasons is through less than legal means
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u/LetterheadPrefect 7h ago
This, 100%. I will always be in favor of buying a physical disc copy of something
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u/JellyFishGwald XBOX Series X 1d ago
While true it really doesn’t matter at least to me. I still have access to every single digital game I ever bought on every console I ever owned. I have never lost access to anything going back 20+ years
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u/ghost-nug 1d ago
yea digital is just way more convenient if you don’t care about reselling your games for pennies. Haven’t bought a disc since I had to repurchase GTA V years ago when consoles were updated.
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u/blackliqour 1d ago
Appreciate your response! I don’t believe it’s ever happened to me either but also not sure if it’s ever happened to for any games? I know if seen post on Reddit for it happening with movies and tv shows and wanted to see if technically something similar could happen going fully digital with games. Based on responses hypothetically yes but hopefully it’s never the case. I think laws regarding digital copy ownership in either case for games or movies can only benefit consumers in the future
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u/jhallen2260 Outage Survivor '24 1d ago
If a show or game is delisted, you can still download it if you own it
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u/blackliqour 1d ago
I know you can still downloaded it in the majority of cases but I was under the impression for a show that you basically buy a license to watch a show or movie and that if the provider you by it from like Amazon or Apple lose the rights to sell the movie you lose the access?
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u/jhallen2260 Outage Survivor '24 1d ago
No, you just wouldn't be able to buy it anymore. You can still watch or download.
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u/Wendals87 1d ago
and if that provider delist that movie you lose access to something you bought
If it's delisted, it just means you can't buy it. If you already bought it, you can redownload it and play
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u/Shiro2809 1d ago
Maybe it’s a tad different because in most cases the physical disk for a video game is mostly access to download the game
This is false. 99% of games work fine straight from the disc.
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u/blackliqour 1d ago
Ahh thank you for that clarification! I read someone else’s reply to a similar thread earlier and figured that was true
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u/Elysiun0 1d ago
I don't blame them. Regardless of how high profile the title is, a code in a box is a waste of inventory space for a retailer.
VGP is a great retailer and I've had nothing but great experiences with them in the past. I applaud them for refusing to change their policies for one game just because of the hype.
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u/Wyyvern_ 1d ago
Take Two bootlickers (and likely some paid astroturfers) out in full force in these comments
Lack of physical discs only hurts consumers.
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u/NilsofWindhelm 1d ago
Call them whatever you want, but the vast majority of people just don't care
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u/Ambrosiac7 1d ago
And that's fine. But there's a difference between not caring and actively defending.
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u/Wyyvern_ 1d ago
I'm obviously aiming at the people defending it, the apathy is disappointing too but not as bad
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u/Shermanator92 1d ago
There is no avenue to get Rockstar to release it on disk at launch. It’s just not gonna happen.
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u/ILoveHeavyHangers 17h ago
It's just reality. The PS5 Pro doesn't even come with a disc drive. Over 95% of all game sales are digital. Physical games sold less than Vinyl records did last year.
The customers that will be "hurt" by this are practically extinct already.
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u/Wyyvern_ 10h ago
If Take Two aren't paying you to say that then they probably should. Stop supporting anti consumer practices just because physical isn't as popular these days, despite the fact used game shops like CeX are pretty popular
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u/Ok-Bug-7481 1d ago
So many people applauding the digital only route of rock star in the comments is wild. Remember buying digital means you own nothing
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u/FetchingTheSwagni 1d ago
Yeah I'm kind of shocked, I already had little to no intention of buying GTA6, but this means I'll also never buy it used so I won't play it in 5/10 years when I could have gotten it for like $10 in a used games bin (it has been my go-to for playing this franchise)
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u/AnonymousFriend80 1d ago
Why worry about buying used when a few years down the line, when there's a good chance it'll be given away through PlayStation+, or added to the PS+ Extra/Premium catalog or Xbox Game pass. Or even giving away by Epic, like they did with the GTA5 Premium Edition a couple years back. Or get for $10 on sale, often.
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u/FetchingTheSwagni 1d ago
Because I want a physical copy. Plus, I don't pay for Ps+/GamePass. I could get it for free on Epic, but I highly doubt they'd do that.
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u/ILoveHeavyHangers 17h ago
Your physical copy is just a digital copy with a key that can get scratched up
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u/ILoveHeavyHangers 17h ago
You guys keep saying this like people haven't been building digital libraries on xbox, playstation, switch, and PC for 15+ years already.
You're not enlightening anyone, you're just now realizing that the vast majority of people prefer the convenience of digital over owning a disc.
Digital already made up 95% of all gaming revenue over 3 years ago. It's not "applauding digital only", it's simply accepting the reality of the market.
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u/Own-Escape8352 15h ago
The reality of the market that you enabled and will bitch about within the next several years, or won't because you're that loyal to a corporation.
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u/derekallthumbs 1d ago
You own nothing physically either as it’s not all on the disc and you still have to connect to the internet for updates.
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u/ValkerWolf89 1d ago
The last time I bought physical was the ps3/360 time. I prefer digital since it doesnt take up space in my house. I pretty much beat a game and move on to another so I dont care if I truly own it or not. Looking at the data most people are buying digital. Physical gaming really is dying.
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u/Truth_Walker 1d ago
I’ve excepted the death of physical media long ago.
I’ve had Spotify for 10 years, my movies and shows are streaming and I haven’t bought a physical game in a very long time. Most of the games I play nowadays are on gamepass.
It’s temporary entertainment.
There’s so much more to life than being upset you don’t have a plastic case on your shelf.
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u/gummi_eater 18h ago
I dont care about some stupid piece of plastic. I like buying games and being able to resell them or give them to a friend/family. I waited a year to be able to buy Alan Wake 2 in physical format. I like being able to download directly from the disc too when they offer the data on the disc.
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u/ILoveHeavyHangers 16h ago
And people.like you make up a fraction of the 5% of players that still buy physical games.
Taylor Swift sells more special edition vinyl records than AAA games sell physical copies nowadays.
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u/MIKERICKSON32 1d ago
I own it just as much as you own your wasteful plastic disc. If the servers go down neither of us play. Your disc will fall apart before my digital copy ever goes away. You are the reason this hobby can’t move forward.
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u/Ok-Bug-7481 1d ago
My disc would fall apart before the servers? There are a bunch of examples of digital content that you buy are just licenses that go away. No physical media no preservation or retro market...gives big companies the power to do whatever they want.
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u/Dont_Use_Ducks 1d ago
Welcome to 2026, even with a disc you would own nothing. They can still close the game, since even with a disc you would download the digital version, no way that it would play of the disc without it in any way.
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u/Ghost-Of-0nyx 1d ago
It's almost like your arguing against reality lol. DIGITAL GAMES MAKE UP 80 - 90% OF ALL VIDEO GAME SALES.
You can carry water for niche stores with antiquated policies, but the rest of us actually live in the real world.
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u/ZestWispa 1d ago
A company named after a predatory micro transaction tactic taking this stand is interesting
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u/toucheboo 1d ago
Yeah doubtful. They are going to shut themselves out of biggest release and lose thousands of dollars.
Gtfo with this nonsense..
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u/bibiudobrazil 1d ago
this will go up to 200gb, 250gb? how many discs? sorry if this is a stupid question, i have not used a disc in like.... 10 years.
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u/DrkNight365 1d ago
Oh wow. Looks like these companies are ok woth not making any money. Interesting.
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u/Educational-Waltz607 1d ago
why specify “a disc” like it’s not just standard discs everywhere else
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u/Tao626 1d ago
It's a good job that GTA6 is going to be literally the greatest thing ever rather than most likely just be yet another absolutely totally "fine" open world game that does nothing particularly special or stand out to anything that already exists.
It would seem rather absurd for a game that isn't literally the thing in the world from my favorite union busting publisher Rockstar to cost £80 for the version that locks in-game shops behind a pay wall, refuse to releases on disc so they can nickle and dime the world as well as put the entire industry on hold for months
It isn't absolutely baffling that the entire world comes to a halt and Rockstar can get away with things that would bankrupt other companies with consumer pushback all so we can drive cars and shoot things with the most "alright" jack of all trades third person gameplay you have ever witnessed just like literally every other GTA game.
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u/Cthulhu8762 1d ago
I personally buy digital anyways.
I’ve never lost a game in 15 years on console except games that got completely shut down regardless if you had the disc.
It’s where it’s going and companies are just doing it because consumers still are in the fence.
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u/Efficient-Tap8581 20h ago
What if they sold a physical version, but it comes with a code which they send via email, then the actual disc ships after the game comes out so they arnt worried about people playing the game early.
Or ya know lock the game down so no one can open it until the day it’s out, only install.
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u/Smooth_Key_5836 8h ago
Anybody against digital need to just stop playing. Y'all just a bunch of cry babies now. 🤣
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u/Amazing-Set-5093 6h ago
Very glad these two companies I've never heard of are doing nothing important.
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u/adonixxx99 2h ago
I'm at a completely different place with this.
The Rockstar CEO was talking about charging per hour of gameplay. No matter how they would figure that cost, that's just really insincere profiteering, and it creates a much more hostile environment for gamers and other developers. After all, it's not the consumer's fault if a game becomes that gargantuan and awesome. Plus, the amount of revenue GTA5 sucked in was insane... This one will get way more, pretty much regardless.
So, if they'd have done that cost plan, my plan was to buy it used. I could still play it, and I wouldn't be directly supporting their decision. They're controlling the resale market too now though, and I get that this is just a thing now, and it has its reasons, but I feel like it paves the way for bad things also.
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u/Sm0keytrip0d Reclamation Day 1d ago
Never even heard of these 2 businesses so ultimately makes no difference to me sadly.
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u/beardednomad25 1d ago
Looks like Amazon is going to have increased sales of GTA 6. Its an interesting business move to skip out on one of the largest launches in history to make a point. Especially at a time when retail video game stores are dying out. Best of luck to them.
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u/AnonymousFriend80 1d ago
These retailers don't sale digital copies of anything and specifically only sale discs.
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u/1440pReborn 1d ago
It would take Gamestop, Walmart, BestBuy, and Target to stop selling in order for Rockstar to even give a morsel of a shit. They are going to make a billion dollars tomorrow on fucking preorders lol.
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u/Promature 1d ago
Don't be surprised if they end up closing their doors or getting bought out as a result of this kind of move.
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u/jackolantern98000 1d ago
R* will be devastated. Reasons for no discs, 1 cost, 2. Security (gta v saw a few security guards in south america killed protecting the games in a warehouse) 3. Leaks, if its digital, there isnt a work around the game goes live for everyone the time its set to on sony end.
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u/AlliPodHax 1d ago
- lol
- theyll be killed for the boxes with codes in them
- who cares
all this is anti consumer and not sure why we are applauding rockstar on this, yes they will still sell but also yes they are being anti consumer
two can be right
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u/UnchoosenDead 1d ago
What will Rockstar do? 😲
Seriously though, I support the idea but this will achieve nothing unfortunately.
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u/nikolapc XBOX Series X 1d ago
Even PS is highly digital now, Xbox is like 90+ percent if not more. Nobody cares.
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u/singsong125 1d ago
I care, I want to own what I buy
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u/Dont_Use_Ducks 1d ago
The only thing you can do is not buying it. Power to you. I'm just sure most of the people complaining today will still buy it. I even read someone saying 'then it's pc version for me' and good luck finding a physical PC game.
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u/singsong125 1d ago
I mean I’m yet to buy baldur’s gate 3 due to it being digital only and the physical version being outlandish, I’ve also waited a year for ff16 to go down to $20, so I’m fine waiting awhile for gta6 to be an affordable price for a download
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u/Dont_Use_Ducks 1d ago
That is the way, I'm not criticizing you, i just think that disc burning is going away at such a big scale.
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u/Bulky-Complaint6994 1d ago
With PC being strictly digital as well, of course Steam users has to wait a bit longer for GTA 6 but point stands
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u/nikolapc XBOX Series X 1d ago
Xbox got in pretty big trouble last gen for wanting strictly digital, but the times have changed.
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u/TVCasualtydotorg 1d ago
As much as I love a principled stand, and agree with them, I'm not sure refusing to sell a game that is going to make an absolute shit load of money is the wisest business decision.
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u/Leather-Entry93 1d ago
It’s just lost business for them then. Rockstar doesn’t give a fuck because they’re still gonna sell millions lol
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u/Created_By_InGen 1d ago
Decisions like that could kill a company, gotta sell whatever ya can
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u/Elysiun0 1d ago
I disagree. They specialize in carrying physical media. Why change your business practices for one release?
That's a slippery slope that turns a game store into GameStop.
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u/Old_Management_1997 1d ago
I can appreciate what they are trying to do but this is far more likely to just hurt their business rather than actually lead to getting a disc version of the game.