Rockstar's official support website has confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6's physical code-in-a-box version will expire after 170 days.
With how mad the whole world is at PlayStation, it's easy to forget that GTA 6 actually shot first when it comes to all the latest physical media hype. Exactly one month ago today, Rockstar confirmed all the details about GTA 6's impending launch, including the fact that it won't be getting a proper physical release.
Instead, the biggest game in the world will exclusively have a code-in-a-box edition, essentially making its physical version an empty shell. It's already a really depressing situation for anyone excited about the game, but it's just come to light that things are even more worrying for one country.
GTA 6 codes will expire after 170 days in Japan
You have six months to cash in before you've wasted ¥9,800
As pointed out by Twitter user Genki_JPN, Rockstar Support's big Q&A about Grand Theft Auto 6's different editions has a rather worrying post for Japanese players. According to the site, GTA 6's code will expire 170 days after the issue date due to “regional regulations.” Basically, GTA 6 is even more limited in Japan.
To make matters worse, the issue date is said to be GTA 6's November 19th, 2026 release date, so it appears that all editions will become unusable on May 8th, 2027. It's not clear what will happen after that point, but I imagine more codes in the boxes will need to be issued, and all useless paper cards. Well, even more than they already were.
In this particular case, it is not really Rockstar's fault because it only follows Japan's rules, but it's yet another reason why the code in a box approach is a huge letdown and a big no-no for preservation. As if we needed a reminder why the digital future will suck with PSN down for most of today…
