A former GTA creator shares his take on digital and physical media following Sony's recent move to digital gaming, while a PlayStation fan loses his account and can't play digital games. Currently is Grand Theft Auto studio is one of the companies leading the investment in digital media.
Rockstar has established itself as one of the gaming industry's juggernauts and has a host of iconic and recognizable titles under its belt. Grand Theft Auto serves as the company's largest flagship franchise, with the launch of new games typically being some of the biggest releases in the gaming world. Rockstar has also seen great success in recent years with Red Dead Redemption series, while boasting several popular smaller properties such as Max Payne, Bullyand LA Noire among others. Now, one of the individuals who helped found Rockstar Games has shared his thoughts on the benefits of digital gaming just as a post about the dangers of digital-only gaming went viral.
Previous GTA Creator Addresses Digital Vs. physical games
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Image via Rockstar Games -
Image via Rockstar Games/Take-Two Interactive
Dan Houser shared his thoughts on the future of physical gaming during the recent San Diego Comic-Con. Houser said he “didn't personally care” if physical games continue to be produced, though he added that companies should provide physical discs “if people want them.” Houser acknowledged the benefits of digital games for development studios, with developers able to continue to update games and fix issues after a game's release. Dan Houser previously worked as lead developer on both Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 before leaving Rockstar Games in 2020.
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Former Rockstar producer Lazlow Jones also weighed in on the debate during the event, emphasizing the convenience of digital games. Lazlow noted one of the downsides of the transition to digital media: losing the feeling of buying a new physical game, opening the case and “putting the disc into the console” for the first time. But Jones also shared the convenience of digital gaming with the resurgence of the handheld market and consoles like the Steam Deck, like being able to “download a few quick games” before a flight.
Rockstar Games has been one of the companies at the forefront of the debate between physical and digital games in recent weeks. The company announced in June 2026 that the physical release of Grand Theft Auto 6 will not contain a disc, but will contain a code for the digital version of the game. The change was met with swift backlash from many members of the gaming community, who said that the digital version removes all opportunities for resale and undermines the game's fundraising potential. The lack of a physical disc for Grand Theft Auto 6 could also draw concerns from fans about licensing for the game, with Sony fans already getting a first-hand look at the possible implications of a digital-only future.
Sony's digital-only future could spell trouble for legacy accounts
Sony sparked significant controversy when the company revealed that it will phase out physical game discs after 2027, meaning it will no longer produce discs for new PlayStation games starting in 2028. Fans have also noticed a major change in Sony's inactive account policy, with accounts potentially being closed after three years of inactivity. The change has led to outrage among many fans, with some already claiming to have lost access to games on older PSN accounts. Such is the case of Twitter user RY3NO, who stated in a viral post that their brother's PSN account had been deleted after being inactive, and that they were unable to play games downloaded on their PS3 because the license had expired.
The shift away from physical media has been far from exclusive to Rockstar or Sony's pre-existing consoles. Sony's change is expected to be linked to a similar change in the PlayStation 6 in development, with Sony's next home console rumored to switch to a digital-only model. Xbox's upcoming Project Helix has also been the subject of heavy rumors about a potential shift to a digital-only model, with the console reportedly not even coming with a disc drive. The shift away from physical discs will likely continue to be a hot topic of discussion among gamers for years to come.
Source: GamesRadar
- Released
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November 19, 2026
- ESRB
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Rating pending – likely adult 17+
