Gaming is edging closer towards a significant change to a controversial new normal, with physical game discs ending on PlayStation consoles in 2028. Unsurprisingly, it’s left consumers infuriated, and those frustrations are certainly beyond merely a few.
With Rockstar Games opening pre-orders for GTA 6, set for launch on November 19, 2026, attention to digital-only gaming and the gradual loss of game ownership has been of utmost importance recently.
Speaking with Katarzyna Jakubiec, the chief business officer at G2A, an online marketplace that provides digital game keys, one clear trend is the significant jump in interest in PlayStation Store gift cards, even before GTA 6‘s pre-order availability.
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“GTA 6 pre-orders have reinforced a trend we were already seeing rather than changing the market overnight,” Jakubiec said.
“During the pre-sale period, PlayStation gift card purchases on G2A reached record levels and continue to grow as anticipation for the launch builds, showing that many players are planning their purchases well ahead of release rather than waiting until launch day.”
GTA 6‘s immense impact on the market during the current and ongoing pre-order period is clear to see, with the same trend expected post-launch, as Jakubiec highlights the potential “continued demand for PlayStation and Xbox gift cards.”
However, there’s a bigger issue at hand, one that will likely heavily benefit marketplaces like G2A once GTA 6 launches and beyond, but not so much for gamers. In case you’ve missed it, GTA 6 won’t launch with a physical game disc on PS5 or Xbox consoles, and thanks to Sony‘s choice to axe physical game discs and Microsoft seemingly following suit, it likely won’t ever have one.
Unsurprisingly, that’s part of the reason why the popularity of PlayStation Store gift cards on marketplaces like Loaded and G2A remains consistently high — but despite further potential growth in terms of G2A’s site visitors and earnings once 2028 arrives, Jakubiec’s alliance with gamers and their ability to make a purchasing choice is evident.
“While more players are embracing digital formats for the flexibility and convenience they offer, it’s equally clear that physical copies continue to mean a great deal to many gamers, whether that’s because of ownership, collection, or simply the experience of buying a physical game.
“We don’t see this as an either-or conversation, and in an ideal world, people should have the choice to buy games in the format that suits them best. Physical and digital both have an important place within gaming, and different people will always have different preferences.”
Unfortunately, that’s not how Sony sees it; in fact, Sony’s stance aligns with the idea that more consumers are purchasing more games digitally, as it makes the controversial decision to end game discs based on ‘shifting trends in consumer preference’, suggesting that physical game copies are becoming obsolete.
However, the reaction online and from key game industry figures like Dan Houser (Rockstar Games co-founder), who is no longer working at the game studio, indicate that gamers aren’t, and frankly, never will be, done with physical game copies — and Jakubiec shares the same sentiment.
“The reaction has been just as telling as the decision itself. It highlights how passionate and diverse the gaming community is, and why major industry decisions need to consider the different ways people choose to buy, own, and experience their games.
“Whether Sony decides to revisit its position is ultimately for them to determine,” which, admittedly, would be a surprise considering the amount of online backlash Sony has ignored online since the controversial announcement.
“Whatever direction the industry takes, moments like this reinforce the need to listen to players and communicate those decisions clearly.”
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