Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has reaffirmed the company's stance against physical editions for major titles like Grand Theft Auto 6, emphasizing the growing dominance and convenience of digital distribution. In a recent earnings call, Zelnick stated that physical discs "don't really make sense for the consumer" in the current market, where over 90% of the company's business is already digital.
This perspective aligns with broader industry trends, including Sony's reported plans to transition its PlayStation consoles to digital-only by 2028. Zelnick argued that in an era where online connectivity is standard for most games, the necessity of a physical disc diminishes. "If you're already connected, who cares if you download digitally? It's all the same, and it's much more convenient," he said.
While Take-Two is not abandoning physical releases entirely, Zelnick suggested they would be exceptions rather than the rule, drawing a parallel to the continued existence of vinyl records in the music industry. However, for large-scale games such as Grand Theft Auto 6, a traditional physical release is deemed unlikely.
Looking further ahead, Zelnick also commented on the rising cost of gaming hardware, calling it "not a good thing." He anticipates a significant shift in how games are accessed within the next three years, predicting a move toward commercial game streaming. Zelnick believes that technological advancements will overcome current drawbacks like latency, making cloud gaming a more viable option for playing high-profile titles across various devices and locations. This suggests that services like Xbox Cloud Gaming or PlayStation Plus Premium could become primary methods of play before the widespread adoption of physical media wanes completely.