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Controversy · comment analysis

Are disc-less physical editions killing boxed games?

What YouTube comments on GTA VI and Resident Evil Code: Veronica really say, numbers included.

Updated: 13/07/2026
No, boxed games aren't dead yet, but the worry is spreading: the debate accounts for up to 16% of GTA VI discussions and 13% of talk around the Resident Evil Code: Veronica remake, with both communities decrying the same drift toward all-digital.

The context

Announced on December 4, 2023, Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. On June 24, 2026, Rockstar Games and parent company Take-Two Interactive announced that pre-orders would open on June 25, stating in their official press release that "the physical version of Grand Theft Auto VI, containing a download code inside the box, will be available starting November 12" to support pre-loading.

This announcement confirmed that the physical edition would ship without a disc, with a standard PS5/Xbox case containing only a single-use code. Several specialized retailers, including Canada's Video Games Plus, said they would not carry this "code-in-box" edition, citing their policy of supporting physical media. On June 27, 2026, after a Rockstar support email had raised hopes of a disc version arriving "in the following months," a source cited by The Hollywood Reporter clarified that no disc was planned, either at launch or later.

According to analyst Mat Piscatella (Circana), cited in June 2026, 52% of Xbox Series consoles and 27% of PS5 units sold in the US no longer have a disc drive; Sony reports 85% digital sales for its games and Capcom 93%, compared with 50.4% for Nintendo, which remains the main publisher still moving a significant volume of physical cartridges.

Separately, Capcom announced the Resident Evil Veronica remake on June 5, 2026 at Summer Game Fest, for a planned 2027 release on PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2 and PC. As of now, the publisher has not disclosed any details regarding a possible physical edition of the title.

Sources: Rockstar Games Announces Pre-Orders for Grand Theft Auto VI · GTA 6 Will Just Be A Code In A Box At Launch With No Disc · GTA 6 Reportedly Won't Get Disc Copy Even Months After Launch · Resident Evil Veronica announced for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, and PC

Factual background compiled from public sources — the debate analysis below relies exclusively on the comments.

How we got here

as told by the comments
Dec. 2023

GTA VI's first trailer sets comments ablaze, but the physical media issue isn't on the radar yet — only the release date matters.

May 2025

The second trailer reignites GTA VI anticipation, with no mention yet of pricing or what future editions will actually include.

June 2026

Rockstar unveils a so-called 'physical' edition without a disc, priced $80-100: anger erupts instantly in the comments.

Mid-June 2026

Capcom announces the Resident Evil Code: Veronica remake; some fans already link it to fears of a disc-less future pushed by Sony.

July 2026

The controversy spreads between both communities, who compare notes and describe a broader industry-wide drift away from physical media.

Grand Theft Auto VI

~16% of the discussion on this game

The steep price paired with the missing disc in the so-called physical edition has fueled strong backlash since the mid-2026 announcements. Commenters directly compare the move to the kind of practices the series itself used to mock.

The disc is gone 70 %

Many find it absurd to pay $80-100 for a 'physical edition' that contains no disc at all.
« Still can't believe the disc version won't have a disc lol. »
— @Floridaman9115 · ♥ 18 k · translated · see original ↗
For some fans, dropping the disc kills the box-opening ritual that used to be part of the GTA experience.
« No physical edition is sad. Opening the big map was part of the GTA experience. »
— @AlwaysTriggered9 · ♥ 6 k · translated · see original ↗
Others call it an aggressive commercial move, comparing it to the kind of corporate practices the series itself used to mock.
« $80 and no actual physical disc is bonkers. »
— @AnonymousLittleBird · ♥ 6 k · translated · see original ↗

Doubt remains 30 %

Some hold out hope that a true collector's edition with an actual disc could still be announced later.
« No collector's box? Maybe later? »
— @NicolasFERNANDEZ-m9x · ♥ 0 · translated · see original ↗
Others shrug it off: with game prices rising across the board, this shift feels almost inevitable, disc or no disc.
« Come on, let's read properly: only 5 shops will be exclusive, the standard edition will be complete with workshops, stores and barbershops, none of the story will be locked. Anyway, it made sense for game prices to rise — a $50 game back then would translate to $90 now. »
— @pirrinaxd6513 · ♥ 1 · translated · see original ↗

Resident Evil Veronica

~13% of the discussion on this game

With Sony pushing toward all-digital distribution, Resident Evil Code: Veronica fans fear the remake won't escape that logic. The debate centers as much on collecting as on the risks of relying on an online account.

The disc is gone 75 %

For many fans, physical media remains an essential safeguard — as one puts it, 'physical media matters'.
« Physical media matters. »
— @neogotham2k39 · ♥ 81 · translated · see original ↗
Others fear losing access to the game entirely if a digital-only account gets banned or hacked.
« It's scary to think that if your PSN account gets banned or hacked, you can't download the games you bought. At least with a physical copy, you can still pop in the disc and play. »
— @ajgarcia8689 · ♥ 111 · translated · see original ↗
In regions without reliable internet, physical discs are described as a necessity rather than a luxury.
« It's really devastating because in some parts of the world, downloading games isn't a given — players there fully depend on physical discs, and this makes things even worse. »
— @Yasser_Elhamdi · ♥ 52 · translated · see original ↗

Doubt remains 25 %

Some hold out hope that Sony or Capcom will reconsider if enough backlash builds up.
« I know PlayStation announced this, but everyone acts like there's no chance they'll reconsider. I'm not saying they will, but maybe if there's enough pushback. Hoping for the best. »
— @austinbain4932 · ♥ 25 · translated · see original ↗
Others trust Capcom's track record, arguing the game's quality matters more than the format debate.
« It feels like Capcom is the only studio left releasing high-quality games on time. They've fully embraced their role as game creators instead of getting bogged down by investor disputes. They've earned their success while everyone else keeps dropping the ball. »
— @RiffInc. · ♥ 49 · translated · see original ↗
Where the debate standsNo consensus emerges: on GTA VI, the anger centers mainly on the price-versus-content of the disc-less edition, while on Resident Evil Code: Veronica, concern leans more toward digital dependency and collector value. The debate remains active, with no final decision reported by commenters so far.

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn't GTA VI's physical edition include a disc?
According to commenters, the 'physical' edition announced in 2026 comes in a box with no disc inside, sparking backlash given the $80-100 asking price.
Will the Resident Evil Code: Veronica remake get a physical release?
Nothing is confirmed according to comments: many hope for a boxed collector's edition, but Sony's push toward digital fuels uncertainty.
Which games are affected by the disappearance of physical discs?
The debate covers both GTA VI, whose announced physical edition has no disc, and the Resident Evil Code: Veronica remake, whose physical fate remains unclear.
Is the physical game disc really disappearing?
The debate remains open according to commenters: some see it as an inevitable industry trend, others still hope publishers will reverse course.
Analysis built from 360 public YouTube comments on the tracked videos — updated on 13/07/2026. Our methodology