No lines to buy GTA 6 on release day? Here’s why game shops may be barren

Every week or so I think ‘what’s up with Grand Theft Auto 6 then?’ Any new goss? Any leaked info? Is the most anticipated video game of, well, ever finished yet? And usually the answer is a definitive “no.”

You see Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive are quite sensitive about GTA leaks and tends to react very strongly to them.

It is entirely understandable, after over a decade of working on GTA 6, that all parties are exceptionally keen to keep everything under wraps until the go date this November. So keen, in fact, that this week saw reports the developer and publisher won’t be releasing physical copies of the game at launch.

The idea, circulated by Polish gaming side PPE.pl (via VGC), seems to be that no physical copies in the wild means no chance of one slipping out, being stolen, sold by accident, or any other mishap that could see the long-awaited sixth instalment sprawled all over the internet.

Makes sense, doesn’t it? That way the makers have a better chance of ensuring the game only gets out when the block comes off the pre-downloads on consoles and PC.

Well, that would makes sense for everyone except the video game stores hanging on for dear life. Just today it emerged the UK high street store GAME might be preparing to enter administration. My local Gamestop in the US just disappeared too. This wouldn’t help matters.

According to this week’s report, the physical copy might even arrive many months after the digital release, the report says. That means no Christmas boost for brick and mortar stores, as well as missing out on the release day buzz of previous versions

“We’re hearing more and more that the physical version won’t be released simultaneously with the digital version to prevent leaks,” the previously-reliable retail source quoted in the report says.

“We’re getting conflicting reports – some say the physical version will arrive three to four weeks after the digital release, while others say it won’t happen until early 2027. More information will be available in mid-February.”

The game is currently planned for a November 19, 2026 release having been initially pushed back from this coming May.