Rumour: GTA 6 may launch digitally only to prevent leaks

A new report from industry outlet Push Square suggests Grand Theft Auto 6 may not receive physical retail discs at launch, with publishers potentially opting for a digital-first release to limit early leaks.

The rumour arrives amid ongoing uncertainty over the game's release schedule, which has repeatedly faced speculation since an alleged 19 November 2026 launch date surfaced. According to the report, some retailers could be excluded from initial disc shipments to reduce the chance of copies being ripped and shared online ahead of launch.

Disc-based leaks are a familiar problem for triple-A titles, with physical copies occasionally surfacing before their official release and resulting in large-scale spoilers and stolen assets. A staggered approach, in which the digital version is released first and physical editions follow later, would theoretically shrink the window for such leaks.

The potential move carries commercial implications. Collectors and customers who prefer boxed editions would face delayed access to physical copies, and retailers that rely on boxed sales and preorders could see an impact on footfall and trade-ins. Special and boxed editions may still be produced, but could be dispatched later or limited to select partners.

Retailers are likely to push back against any extended digital-only window, given the importance of physical sales for promotions and preorders. A compromise could involve limited physical runs for smaller retail partners or exclusive timed editions for selected stores.

Neither Rockstar Games nor parent company Take-Two Interactive have confirmed the report. The Push Square piece remains the primary source for the rumour at present and is available to read in full on the outlet's site: Push Square: Rumour — GTA 6 might not launch physically at first to avoid leaks.

The situation is likely to evolve as official marketing ramps up and distributors begin taking preorders; any formal confirmation from Rockstar or Take-Two will clarify whether a digital-first strategy is being adopted for the launch.