The GTA creator's comments on digital games are timely after the viral PlayStation account loss

A former GTA creator shares his stance on digital and physical media following Sony's recent decision to transition to digital-only games, when PlayStation fans lost their accounts and were unable to play digital games. Currently, the Grand Theft Auto The studio is one of the companies leading the charge in the push toward digital media.

Rockstar has built itself into one of the juggernauts of the gaming industry with a wealth of iconic and recognizable titles under its belt. Grand Theft Auto Serving as the company's largest flagship franchise, new game launches are typically some of the biggest releases in the gaming world. Rockstar has also seen great success in recent years Red Dead Redemption series, while boasting many popular minor qualities such as Max Payne, threatand LA Noire among others. Now, one of the people who helped found Rockstar Games has shared his thoughts on the benefits of digital games after a post about the dangers of digital-only games went viral.

The former GTA creator addresses digital vs. physical games

Dan Houser shared his thoughts on the future of physical games during the recent San Diego Comic-Con. Houser said he “personally didn't care” whether physical games were being produced, though he added that companies should provide physical discs “if people want them.” Houser acknowledged the benefits of digital games for development studios, with developers able to continue updating games and fixing issues after the game's release. Dan Houser previously worked as lead developer on both Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 Before leaving Rockstar Games in 2020.

Former Rockstar producer Lazlo Jones also weighed in on the debate during the event, emphasizing the convenience of digital games. Lazlow noted one downside of the transition to digital media: losing the feeling of buying a new physical game, opening the case, and “putting the disc in the console” for the first time. However, Jones also shared the convenience of digital games with the resurgence of the handheld market and consoles like the Steam Deck, such as being able to “download a few quick games” before a flight.

Rockstar Games has been one of the companies leading the debate between physical and digital games in recent weeks. The company had announced a physical release in June 2026 Grand Theft Auto 6 Does not include the disc, but instead includes the code for the digital version of the game. The change was met with swift backlash from many members of the gaming community, who said that a digital-only release removes any chance of resale and dilutes the game's collectability. Lack of physical disk for Grand Theft Auto 6 Sony fans may also be concerned about licensing for the game, having already seen first-hand the potential implications of a digital-only future.

Sony's digital-only future could spell trouble for older accounts

Sony sparked significant controversy when the company revealed that it will phase out physical game discs after 2027, meaning it will no longer produce discs for new PlayStation games starting in 2028. Fans have also discovered a major change in Sony's policy for inactive accounts, with accounts potentially closed after three years of inactivity. The change has caused outrage among many fans, with some claiming to have already lost access to games on old PSN accounts. Such is the case of Twitter user RY3NO, who said in a viral post that his brother's PSN account was deleted after it was deactivated, and they could not play the downloaded games on their PS3 because the license had expired.

The shift away from physical media has been away from exclusives to Rockstar or Sony's pre-existing consoles. Sony's change is expected to tie in with a similar change to the PlayStation 6 in development, with Sony's next home console rumored to switch to a digital-only model. Xbox's upcoming Project Helix has also been the subject of heavy rumors about a possible shift to a digital-only model, with the console reportedly not even coming with a disc drive. The shift away from physical discs will likely continue to be a hot topic of discussion among gamers for years to come.

Source: GamesRadar

systems

issued

November 19, 2026

ESRB

Rating Pending – Potentially Mature 17+