Physical Game Sales Grew in the US for the First Time in 17 Years — Just as GTA 6 Ditches Discs
An analyst reveals US physical game sales grew for the first time in 17 years, even as GTA 6 is set to launch as a digital-only title without disc support.
In a twist of timing that's hard to ignore, physical video game sales in the United States have reportedly grown for the first time in 17 years — right as Rockstar Games prepares to release GTA 6 without any disc-based version.
According to GamesRadar, an industry analyst has revealed this unexpected uptick in physical sales, a format that many had assumed was in terminal decline. The news stands in stark contrast to Rockstar's decision to go fully digital with one of the most anticipated games in history, suggesting the studio is betting firmly on a download-only future regardless of what the broader market data might indicate.
Of course, GTA 6 is something of a special case. A title of its magnitude moving away from physical media entirely is a significant signal from Rockstar and parent company Take-Two Interactive about where they see the industry heading. Physical or not, demand for GTA 6 is expected to be enormous, and the lack of a disc version is unlikely to dent sales in any meaningful way.
Analysts caution, however, that the growth in physical sales may not represent a lasting trend. A single year of modest gains after nearly two decades of consistent decline doesn't necessarily point to a full-blown revival of boxed games. It could simply reflect specific market conditions or a strong slate of titles that drove consumers back to shelves temporarily.
Still, the juxtaposition is striking. Just as one of gaming's biggest-ever releases abandons the disc entirely, the format shows a rare flicker of life. Whether Rockstar's all-digital approach for GTA 6 will look prescient or premature is a question only time — and sales figures — will answer.