GTA Co-Creator Dan Houser: Companies Should Provide Physical Games If Players Want Them
Rockstar Games co-founder weighs in on physical media debate at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, balancing consumer choice with digital convenience.
Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games and creator of Grand Theft Auto, said at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 that companies should provide physical game discs if players want them, entering the heated debate over digital versus physical distribution with a consumer-first stance.
Speaking in an IGN interview alongside writer Lazlow Jones, Houser addressed the controversy directly. "I don't know that I care, but if people want that, I think companies should provide it," he said.
The comments arrive as the gaming industry accelerates its shift toward all-digital distribution. Sony announced it will cease production of physical game discs for new PlayStation titles starting January 2028. Rockstar's upcoming GTA 6 will not ship with a playable disc at launch; the physical edition will contain only a download code.
Houser, who now works at Absurd Ventures, the company he founded in February 2021, acknowledged both sides of the argument. While advocating for consumer choice, he noted the practical benefits of digital distribution, particularly the ability to push updates that improve game quality post-launch.
Jones, his longtime collaborator on the GTA series and current partner on the American Caper comic series, struck a similarly balanced tone. "We all have that sort of feeling when you get that copy and you put the disc in the console," Jones said, acknowledging the nostalgic appeal of physical media.
However, Jones also praised digital convenience for modern gaming habits. He cited personally downloading games to his Steam Deck at the airport before a 12-hour flight as an example of where digital distribution excels.
The pair were discussing their current projects at Comic-Con when the topic arose, but their comments carry weight given their history. Houser oversaw creation of the GTA franchise, one of the most successful entertainment properties in history. His perspective adds significant voice to the consumer-rights side of the debate, contrasting with industry trends that favor digital adoption for cost-cutting and logistical simplicity.
The GTA 6 "code in a box" format has proven particularly controversial among collectors and players who value physical ownership. Unlike traditional physical releases, the format provides no playable media, functioning essentially as a boxed digital key.
Houser's position stops short of endorsing physical media personally but frames it as a matter of consumer choice rather than corporate convenience. As one of gaming's most influential creators, his intervention suggests the debate will continue well beyond Sony's 2028 deadline.