The Grand Theft Auto 6 rumor mill is spinning faster than a stolen Cheetah in Downtown Vice City. The latest buzz? If you’re a gaming traditionalist who loves the weight of a physical disc in your hands, you might have to wait a little longer than expected.

According to a new report, the physical copies of GTA 6 launching on November 19 won’t actually include a disc at all—instead, they’ll just be a “code in a box.” But don’t panic just yet: actual, honest-to-goodness disc versions are allegedly slated to drop this December.

The “Code in a Box” Strategy

This inside scoop comes from Polish gaming site PPE.pl and their insider, Graczdari. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because they previously predicted GTA 6 wouldn’t have a traditional physical release on launch day.

While Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two, initially denied those rumors, this week’s official announcements partially vindicated the leaker. Yes, there will be a box on store shelves on November 19, but it will only contain a digital download code.

According to Graczdari—who has a solid track record with physical retail leaks—this digital-only launch is a temporary strategy.

“Generally speaking, the release with the code will be a one-shot, and the option for a disc release will follow.”

If this claim holds water, it means once that initial wave of boxed codes sells out, physical shelves will remain empty until the proper disc editions arrive in December for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

Why is Rockstar Ditching Discs at Launch?

While it might frustrate physical collectors, Rockstar’s logic boils down to two major factors: spoilers and cold, hard cash.

• The Anti-Leak Shield: We’ve all seen it happen. A retail employee opens a shipping box a week early, copies get sold under the table, and suddenly the entire plot is plastered across TikTok and YouTube. By eliminating day-one discs, Rockstar completely locks down the game until the digital servers flip the switch.

• Maximizing Margins: Printing, shipping, and distributing plastic discs costs money. By pushing players toward digital codes, Rockstar keeps a bigger piece of the pie for what analysts predict will be the most lucrative entertainment launch in human history.

The Cost of Entering Vice City

Whether you buy it digitally, grab the code-in-a-box, or wait for the December disc, visiting Leonida won’t come cheap. Pricing for the highly anticipated sequel has been confirmed: