Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games and a key figure in the creation of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, has weighed in on the ongoing discourse surrounding physical game media. His comments come in the context of Sony's planned discontinuation of physical disc support on PlayStation consoles starting in January 2028, a move attributed by the company to "shifting trends in consumer preference."
Houser expressed a personal indifference to the format, stating in an interview with IGN, "I don't know that I care." However, he added a crucial caveat: "If people want that, I think companies should provide it." He also pointed to a significant advantage of digital games, noting the "ability to update and fix problems," which he believes has been "really useful for the quality of games."
Accompanying Houser in the interview was Lazlow Jones, another former Rockstar veteran now working with him at Absurd Ventures. Jones shared an understanding of the tangible satisfaction of inserting a disc into a console but also highlighted the convenience of digital downloads, citing the ability to acquire a game at an airport for in-flight entertainment.
Houser himself acknowledged a fondness for physical media, saying, "I love physical media." This discussion occurs as Absurd Ventures is actively developing multiple open-world, action-adventure video game projects, including titles set in their original sci-fi comic series "A Better Paradise" and their comedic satire world, "Absurdaverse."
Sony's transition to an all-digital future is perceived by some experts as a strategy to increase revenue and control. This shift will impact major releases, with Grand Theft Auto 6, slated for a November release, being a digital-exclusive. While Rockstar will offer a boxed edition of GTA 6 at retail, it will contain only a code for the digital version. Houser departed Rockstar Games in 2020, while his brother, Sam Houser, remains with the company ahead of GTA 6's launch.