GTA 6 has managed to avoid a boycott on PlayStation 5 despite many gamers threatening to abandon the console due to Sony’s newly announced commitment to an all-digital future.
Rockstar Games’ next release isn’t innocent within all of this, also opting for a digital-only release. Physical copies will be available as a “code in a box” which isn’t a true physical copy at all. Even still, it’s one thing for individual games to abandon physical media; it’s another for an industry behemoth to pack it in altogether.
Sony recently confirmed that it’ll cease offering disc copies from January 2028 onwards — and that includes third-party games as well as first-party.
The Boycott That Wasn’t
Since then, a boycott has come into effect. PlayStation users are encouraging each other to cancel their PlayStation Plus subscriptions and stop purchasing digital games. There are plenty of calls to action online:
“Sony will deeply regret and possibly backtrack this terrible anti-consumer decision.” — Reddit user
“Please cancel your 12-month PS Plus subs. You gain power without losing access till it’s too late for Sony/PS.” — basixuser
“I canceled mine as soon as I found out. But I actually fully intend to leave PlayStation if they stick with this plan. I’ll go to Nintendo, PC or Xbox if they get it together.” — rebelweezeralliance
And yet, despite the noise, the boycott appears to have had little to no impact on GTA VI pre-orders.
GTA 6 Fans Speak With Their Wallets
A quick trip over to GTA VI‘s subreddit shows that fervour for the game hasn’t wavered amid all of this backlash to what’s being dubbed the “best” platform to play GTA VI on.
“After working extremely hard and looking forward to this moment, it finally happened.” — gr3yc4t26, showing proof of their pre-order on the PlayStation Store
“Regardless of whatever is going on right now over the whole physical vs digital stuff, I have been working really hard these past months for this and this is an extremely emotional moment for me as I do not make big purchases like this often. If there are some out there that are bothered by it because of the physical debate then I’m sorry, nothing will affect a moment like this and I will forever cherish it.” — gr3yc4t26
“Congrats, I will be getting a PS5 this week too, I can’t wait!” — raw1469
“Congrats brother, this game is gonna be sick.” — Deluxe_24
Why the Boycott Failed
It’s very, very unlikely that PlayStation will reverse its decision due to negative chatter. It’ll simply ride out the storm. If users are going to make an impact, they’ll need to protest with their wallets — and so far, that’s not happening.
While many gamers are passionate about physical media preservation, the reality is that digital convenience and hype for a game like GTA VI often outweigh ideological principles. For every person threatening to cancel their subscription, dozens more are pre-ordering without hesitation.
Where the Boycott Has Worked
Some independent retailers have taken action. US retailers Video Games Plus and Loot Box Gaming have refused to stock “code-in-a-box” physical editions, citing their commitment to preserving physical media.
Video Games Plus wrote:
“For nearly 40 years, VGP has been committed to supporting physical media and preserving the value of physical game ownership. As part of that commitment, our company policy is that we do not carry physical products for video game consoles that contain only a digital download code.”
The Bottom Line
GTA VI hasn’t totally escaped controversy, but the threatened boycott has failed to materialise at scale. The game is well on track to become one of the best-selling of all time — especially when it’s bolstered by the inevitable PC port further down the line.
Also, Read
- GTA 6 Fans Are Convinced They Know the Date of the Next Big Reveal
- GTA 6 Will Be Unplayable To Millions Unless You Prove One Bizarre Criteria
- GTA 6 Achieves the Impossible, It’s Already Boring Gamers
Despite the all-digital controversy, you cannot at all blame people for being hyped for GTA VI‘s launch, regardless of how it arrives come release day. For many players, the game itself matters more than the format it comes on.
Grand Theft Auto VI will be released on 19 November 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The PC port has yet to be announced.