Rockstar’s Parent Company Claims Physical Discs Are No Longer Practical for Gamers

During a recent earnings call, Take-Two Interactive’s CEO Strauss Zelnick addressed Sony’s announcement to cease physical game production by 2028. Zelnick noted that the gaming industry is already heavily leaning towards digital distribution, suggesting that physical discs are becoming less relevant for major titles, such as Rockstar’s highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6.

On August 7, during Take-Two’s Q1 2027 earnings call, Zelnick shared insights about the company’s performance before fielding questions from investors. Naturally, many inquiries revolved around the upcoming GTA 6, but one investor sought Zelnick’s perspective on Sony’s decision to halt physical game production. Rather than extolling the virtues of owning physical copies, Zelnick took a different approach.

“I’m not going to comment on Sony’s own decision,” Zelnick stated. “But in terms of our decision, look, our business is well over 90 percent digitally distributed as is. It is already a digital business. So in certain instances, especially if it is a big game, discs (and note I said discs) don’t really make sense for the consumer.”

He further explained, “Also, in most instances, you have to register online to play anyhow, so if you are already connected, like, who cares if you download digitally? It’s all the same, and it’s much more convenient.”

Zelnick’s remarks align with the current trajectory of the industry. With GTA 6, one of the most significant game releases in years, set to launch without physical discs, it appears that the trend is shifting towards digital-only formats. Instead of a disc, copies of GTA 6 available in stores this November will include a download code.

“So that’s where the world is going in our opinion,” Zelnick concluded. “And I think Sony understands that; we certainly understand that. That doesn’t mean we won’t have physical editions now and then; I’m sure we will in the same way there’s still vinyl in the recorded music business. In other instances, it just won’t make sense.”