My heart hurts for these Bungie devs. Everyone deserved better, everyone was failed.
The leadership at Bungie and SIE as a whole is laughable and they should be deeply embarrased at just how massive of a fuck-up this is.
GTA 6 HAD to launch discless. It's genius PLUS I think it's the future for mega blockbuster games. I don't like it either, but as game developer, I understand why. Before you flame me, let me explain:
1. Main reason above all else - No supply shortages. If this is really the biggest game ever, there's simply no way you would be able to get every disc into everyone's hands in time. And you'd have millions of frustrated fans.
2. No SCALPING . If you think you saw overpriced PS5's during covid, imagine the price rich folks would pay for GTA6 when it's sold out for weeks.
3. Global simultaneous launch. Reduces spoilers ruining it for people who had to WAIT. This also allows you to control the price per local region instead of crazy price surges because of delays to certain areas.
4. Mother fucking LEAKS. If this was discs, the financial incentive for Jim the GAMESPOT employee to sell that disc to someone 2 weeks early so they can rip the disc and leak the story online would be insane.
5. Logistics. The sheer amount of warehouse, shipping, and logistical nightmare to get that many discs pressed and moved around the world would have been a nightmare. A NIGHTMARE.
6. No manufacturing costs. Instead of paying for all that disc printing, boxing and warehouse space. They get all the revenue if you just buy it from the online store.
7. No Gold Master. Every game I've ever worked on - Disc manufacturing typically starts around 8-12 weeks before launch. The game needs to be in a "gold master" to get ready for disc. You can still create a launch patch, but if it's a but annoying to have make launch patch instead of just focus on the game as a whole.
8. REAL FANS. They can release just a disc version 3 months later and you insane hardcore fans are gonna buy it TWICE just to get that damn trophy box.
Okay you can flame me, now. I can take it.
Bungie has given me literally thousands of hours of amazing entertainment through their games. Very sad to see the talent of this studio getting torn apart 😔
You bought GTA5 in 2013 for $60
You bought every Madden, 2k, CoD, Battlefield, skins since then for $60/70 per year.
So you won’t spend $100 on GTA6 but you’ll spend $780-910 on recycled games.
None of you can critically think. Fries in the bag and shut up.
People out here legit losing their minds over GTA VI having a $100 Ultimate Edition. Its been this way, for years.
GTA VI is one of the cheapest special editions I have seen.
GTA 6’s physical version with a disc is reportedly coming in December 2026.
The physical version releasing in November will only include a download code to prevent leaks and spoilers.
(Source: https://t.co/WejP3yQBpE)
@akuma_spongebob Wide FOVs are fine but the distortion at the edge of the frame is just obnoxious imo. Ultrawide lenses are fun to play with and make cool shots, but an entire game is too much for me.
Remember when Game-Key Cards were “the death of physical media”? Now people are ready to pay $80 for GTA VI, $100 for the Ultimate Edition, and accept a box with nothing but a download code.
Funny how outrage disappears when it’s Rockstar.
Consistency matters.
Lot of this extremely predatory GTA VI stuff being disregarded because it’s Rockstar is a very weird double standard
Who knows how it’ll be in practice but the Ultimate Edition phrasing sounds extremely rough
Everything about this release from the pricing to the lack of a physical disc to this shit is so much more predatory than any of the shit we were joking about lol