Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick Leaves Door Open for GTA 6 Disc Release, Denies Leak Fears Drove Decision

One of the biggest questions following Rockstar's surprising decision to skip a disc release for GTA 6 at launch is whether a physical version will ever materialize. In a new interview with IGN, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two (Rockstar's parent company), didn't rule it out.

Speaking today after Take-Two's Q1 2027 financial results, Zelnick defended the no-disc stance, arguing that for major titles, discs "don't really make sense for the consumer." He doubled down in the IGN interview, noting that over 90% of Take-Two's sales are digital. "In order to play video games, you need to be connected today," he said. "So everyone's connected. So it's just a matter of the most efficient way to get the title into people's hands."

When asked if he could rule out a future disc release, Zelnick responded: "I wouldn't rule out anything at this stage of the game. What we've announced so far is what we're doing at the moment, but we are always open minded."

Rockstar confirmed the no-disc plan back in June, sparking speculation that it was partly to prevent leaks. Rhys Elliot, head of market analysis at Alinea Analytics, told IGN at the time that avoiding physical discs aligns with "Rockstar's near-pathological secrecy," and ensures game data only unlocks at launch, preventing early leaks from copies "lost off the back of a truck." GTA 6 has already suffered one major pre-launch leak, so it's easy to see why Rockstar would want tight control.

However, Zelnick denied that security concerns influenced the decision. When asked if the risk of leaks factored into Take-Two's thinking, he simply said: "No."

The backlash isn't just aimed at Rockstar; Sony's announcement to stop producing PlayStation discs from 2028 has also drawn heavy criticism. Gamers have signed petitions and flooded PlayStation's social media with concerns about preservation and ownership, even overshadowing new game releases. Some have called for a week-long PlayStation boycott in August. The UK's Digital Entertainment and Retail Association (ERA) called Sony's decision "a triumph of corporate convenience over consumer choice."

Last week, Sony broke its silence, saying the move won't impact its business now or in the future, and executives insist they won't change course despite "strong views" from the community.

Zelnick offered a similar stance regarding GTA 6, expressing confidence that skipping a disc won't hurt Take-Two financially. "I certainly hope there will be no negative impact and I don't expect that there will be one," he said.

He agreed that physical discs will eventually disappear almost entirely, comparing it to vinyl in the music industry, but declined to predict a timeline. "I really wouldn't be able to guess," he said. "And by going away, there'll still be some in the same way that there's still some vinyl in the recorded music business, but I don't believe it'll be a lot."

Zelnick also distanced Take-Two from Sony's decision, stressing: "We wanted to do what was right for the project."

Sony justified its move by citing consumer trends. "In response to shifting trends in consumer preference, new games will be released on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only," said Sid Shuman, Senior Director of Content Communications at Sony Interactive Entertainment, in a blog post.

Sony's latest financials show an 82% digital download ratio for full game software on PS4 and PS5. Mat Piscatella of Circana noted that only seven PlayStation games sold over 100,000 physical units in the U.S. this year, and just two sold more than 10,000 in the week ending July 11.

Going all-digital is more profitable for Sony, especially as console costs rise and sales are expected to drop. For a first-party game like The Last of Us, Sony keeps about 65% of a physical copy's price, with retailers taking ~30% and manufacturing ~5%. For third-party physical games like Call of Duty, Sony gets a licensing fee of around 15%. But for digital downloads, Sony keeps 100% of first-party sales via PlayStation Store and takes a 30% cut (about $21 for a $70 game) for third-party titles.

We'll have more from Zelnick shortly, including his comments on GTA 6's price points and Netflix's timed exclusivity for the next trailer.