Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that physical games will not completely disappear from the market, with some business remaining in the future, but their share of the overall industry will be "very small." Currently, 98% of Take-Two's business comes from digital formats.
Zelnick compared the outlook for physical games to vinyl records in the music market. While streaming has become the primary consumption method for most people, the vinyl market still exists and is growing. Physical games may similarly shift towards a niche collector's market, while digital distribution continues to dominate.
GTA VI exemplifies this trend. Rockstar Games will not release a version with a game disc; retail stores will sell boxed download codes. The $400 Collector's Edition includes various physical items but does not contain the base game; however, the game's soundtrack will still be released on CD and vinyl.
GTA VI will launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19. Rumors suggest the PC version and online multiplayer mode may arrive in 2027, but these are not part of the official release schedule.