Rockstar Games

Rockstar may delay the physical release of Grand Theft Auto 6 to prevent leaks, according to report

Rockstar may delay boxed editions in an effort to stop early gameplay and story leaks.

Update: Jan 27th, 2026 16:36 CET

It would be an understatement to say that Rockstar Games fans—or anyone who enjoys open-world games—have been eager to get their hands on Grand Theft Auto 6 for the past 13 years. However, it seems they may have to wait a bit longer, and no, it isn’t due to another delay. According to a new report from the Polish outlet PPE.pl and its insider Graczdari, Take-Two and Rockstar Games are considering holding back the physical version of the game at launch. The main goal behind this move would be to prevent early spoilers and gameplay leaks, which often occur when retail copies end up in the wild days before the official release.

The insider, who has a solid track record with previous leaks like the PS5 port of Microsoft Flight Simulator, claims that there are currently no plans for a physical edition on day one. Instead, the game would debut as a digital-only title on consoles, with a boxed version following later. “We’re hearing more and more that the physical version won’t be released simultaneously with the digital version to prevent leaks,” their source claims. “We’re getting conflicting reports – some say the physical version will arrive three to four weeks after the digital release, while others say it won’t happen until early 2027. More information will be available in mid-February.”

Learning from a history of leaks

It is no secret that Rockstar has struggled with security issues in the past. In September 2022, a massive data breach exposed over an hour of development footage, and in late 2023, the first official trailer was leaked online just hours before its intended debut. By prioritizing a digital-first launch, the developers could better protect the narrative surrounding protagonists Lucia and Jason, allowing players to experience the “authentic and competitive gameplay” without having key moments spoiled by someone who managed to get a disc early from a local retailer.