The last month has seen a huge blow dealt to physical games, as Rockstar confirmed that GTA 6 would not launch with a disc, but a redeemable code, while Sony announced that it would cease game disc production altogether in 2028.

Amid fierce, ongoing backlash, Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser — who left the company in early 2020 — was asked for his opinion on the debate. While he isn’t personally invested or even enthusiastic about discs, he suggested that publishers should continue to sell them if there’s a demand.

“I don’t know that I care, but if people want that, I think companies should provide it,” Houser told IGN. “But I don’t know that I personally care.”

In the same interview, he talked about the perks to digital gaming and the benefits that it affords to both developers and players alike. “I also think that the ability to update games — as critical as people are of digital releases — the ability to update and fix problems in games has been really useful for the quality of games,” he explained.

Though, of course, that isn’t a digital exclusive perk. Physical copies can still access updates and patches.

Is Digital Really Inevitable?

Several developers and publishers have argued that digital is inevitable as interest in physical dies out, pointing to PC as an example. However, 37 million physical copies were sold in the US alone by June 2026. That’s a steep drop from the 292 million units sold in the same 12-month period in 2009, but it's still a significant amount. Equal to the entire population of Morocco.

PC is also an open ecosystem with various storefronts, whereas PlayStation is a closed ecosystem, with just one.

That’s not to mention the lucrative second-hand market, which is valued at $7.2 billion (including consoles, accessories, and peripherals). Physical discs are still a valued part of gaming, especially among collectors. And in some parts of the world, a necessity, as poor internet connection or a lack of official PSN support makes digital gaming completely inaccessible.

So, there’s definitely a demand for discs. And, as Houser says, if people want discs to continue being produced, “companies should provide it.”

Grand Theft Auto 6 Like Follow Followed Action Adventure Systems OpenCritic Reviews Released November 19, 2026 ESRB Rating Pending - Likely Mature 17+ Developer(s) Rockstar Games Publisher(s) Rockstar Games 8 Images Close
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