Take-Two boss defends disc-free GTA 6, likens physical games to vinyl

Take-Two Interactive boss Strauss Zelnick has defended the decision not to release Grand Theft Auto VI on a physical disc, telling analysts that discs "don't really make sense for the consumer" when it comes to blockbuster titles.

Speaking during a Q&A following the company's latest quarterly results, Zelnick declined to comment directly on Sony's controversial move to end PlayStation disc production from 2028, but was unequivocal about Rockstar's flagship game. "Our business is well over 90% digitally distributed," he said. "It's already a digital business. So in certain instances, especially if it's a big game, discs just don't really make sense for the consumer."

He argued that connectivity has made the format redundant. "Most instances you have to register online to play anyhow. So if you're already connected, who cares if you download digitally? It's all the same and it's much more convenient."

Zelnick stopped short of writing off physical media entirely, comparing it to the enduring niche appeal of vinyl. "It doesn't mean that we won't have physical editions now and then. I'm sure we will, in the same way that there's still vinyl in the recorded music business. But in other instances, it just won't make sense." He went further on the earnings call, predicting the industry would be in "commercial streaming mode in three years".

The comments land amid a fierce backlash against Sony's disc decision, with gamers signing petitions and organising boycotts over concerns about ownership and game preservation. The UK's Entertainment and Retail Association branded Sony's move "a triumph of corporate convenience over consumer choice".

Grand Theft Auto VI is due for release on 19 November 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.