Take-Two Boss Shuts Down GTA 6 Digital-Only Launch Rumours

Strauss Zelnick just put the brakes on weeks of speculation.

The Take-Two Interactive CEO told Variety straight up that Grand Theft Auto 6 won't be a digital-only release when the game drops this November. When pressed about whether Rockstar would delay physical copies to stop leaks, his response was blunt: "That's not the plan."

This comes after a Polish industry insider, Graczdari from PPE.pl, claimed late last month that Take-Two had shelved plans for launch-day physical editions. The source suggested discs might arrive three to four weeks after digital, or even slip into early 2027.

The reasoning? Leaks. Retailers breaking street dates early has become a genuine nightmare for publishers. Look at what happened with Nintendo titles. Someone always gets their hands on a copy before launch day, uploads gameplay, spills story beats. For a project the size of GTA 6, that's unacceptable risk.

Graczdari has a decent track record. He previously nailed details about Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024's PlayStation port and Oblivion Remastered's physical release dates. That credibility made the GTA 6 claim spread fast across forums and social media.

But Zelnick's denial settles things for now.

Summer Marketing Push Signals Confidence

Take-Two dropped another key detail during its Q3 2026 earnings call on 3rd February. The publisher confirmed GTA 6 marketing kicks off this summer, which Zelnick frames as proof they're dead serious about the November 19th date.

"Because any time you're getting closer to marketing beats, you're obviously in a place where your confidence level is as high as you can be," he told IGN.

For Zelnick, announcing a marketing window is unusual. He's typically cagey about Rockstar's plans. The fact he's committing months in advance suggests internal confidence the game won't slip again. Summer likely means trailers, gameplay reveals, maybe even hands-on previews at major showcases.

This follows two previous delays. GTA 6 was supposed to launch in autumn 2025, then got pushed to 26th May 2026, before landing on the current November 19th slot. Each delay hit Take-Two's stock and dented consumer confidence.

Some fans remain cautious. Less than three months before the second delay, Zelnick said another postponement was "very unlikely." Yet here we are. But committing real money to a summer marketing campaign is different. Those budgets don't get greenlit unless the product is nailed down.

Physical Copies Still Matter for Retailers

The confirmation matters beyond collectors. Physical releases drive foot traffic to game shops, boost console sales, and ease pressure on digital servers during launch windows. A digital-only GTA 6 would have left brick-and-mortar stores out in the cold on what could be the biggest entertainment launch in history.

Grand Theft Auto 5 has now surpassed 225 million copies sold, according to Take-Two's latest earnings. The entire GTA franchise sits at over 465 million units shifted. GTA 6 is expected to smash records, with some analysts predicting north of $2 billion in first-year revenue.

Pricing remains unclear. Rumours persist about a £100 deluxe edition, possibly bundled with GTA Online perks. Zelnick hasn't commented on pricing yet, only saying details will come "in due time."

Rockstar hasn't made its own statement about physical copies. The studio prefers to let trailers do the talking. Since December 2023's first trailer and May 2025's second, the company has stayed quiet. That changes this summer when the marketing machine fires up properly.

What About PC and GTA Online?

GTA 6 launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S first. No PC date has been announced, though previous GTA titles arrived on PC months after consoles.

TweakTown reports that court documents show Rockstar is currently playtesting the next version of GTA Online, but whether it launches alongside the main game remains unknown. Zelnick mentioned during the earnings call that GTA 5's online component will continue receiving updates as long as players engage with it post-GTA 6 launch.

For collectors and physical media fans, Zelnick's comments provide relief. Both digital and disc versions will be available day one when GTA 6 drops on 19th November 2026.