Insomniac Games has confirmed that the physical edition of its upcoming PlayStation 5 title, Marvel's Wolverine, will include a disc in the box. This assurance comes as a response to player concerns following Rockstar Games' announcement that Grand Theft Auto 6's physical release will feature a download code instead of a disc.

The clarification was made by Insomniac Games on social media, where a fan inquired about the inclusion of a disc. The studio directly responded, stating, "The physical version will include a disc in box."

The decision by Rockstar Games to opt for a download code in the physical edition of Grand Theft Auto 6 has generated discussion within the industry. A primary suspicion is that this approach aims to combat the resale of used games. By omitting a physical disc, the practice of buying and selling second-hand copies becomes impossible. This also grants the studio greater control over pricing and helps prevent early leaks of the game, as no physical copies would be in circulation before the official release.

This move by Rockstar could potentially influence other game developers. Codes in boxes are already a common practice, particularly on the Nintendo Switch platform. However, the prominence and influence of Grand Theft Auto 6 might lead to a broader adoption of this strategy across other consoles and PC releases.

The gaming industry is heading into a busy period with numerous high-profile releases scheduled for late summer and early autumn, many aiming to launch before Grand Theft Auto 6's November release date. Titles such as Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, Star Wars Zero Company, The Blood of Dawnwalker, Phantom Blade 0, Marvel's Wolverine, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, Control Resonant, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, and Gears of War E-Day are among those slated to launch in this timeframe. The question remains whether these games will continue to utilize traditional disc-based releases or adopt the code-in-a-box model.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled for release on November 19th for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X.