‘GTA VI’ is one of the most unique releases I remember. Little, very little is known about Rockstar’s new game, but it seems that players have gone to pre-order it trusting the pedigree of the developer. Added to this is that it keeps adding controversies related to the game (such as It costs 100 euros and has a shortened version at 80 euros) and the company (layoffs and persecution of unions). As if that were not enough, it will have a physical edition to boot.
Because The physical edition ‘GTA VI’ will not come with a disc with the game inside, but a simple code that will give us access to the license to use it. And, in the midst of controversy with the disappearance of the physical format, we must be careful with buying a ‘GTA VI’ box for PS5 outside our country because it may not work on our console.
And it turns out that it is a decision that has just been given lunge to physical format: PlayStation.
The new controversy of the “physical edition” of ‘GTA VI’
In a question and answer published in the Rockstar support pagethe company details the content of the different editions and other issues that prepare us for the launch of the game on November 19 of this year. One of them has to do with the operation of the codes that come inside the box.
There was a doubt about whether ‘GTA VI’ would include the classic in this boxed edition map that came with each delivery and Rockstar does not mention it nowhere, pointing out that the box will have a code that will allow the digital download to be made, without a discof in the box. This is not new, but the other interesting thing is that, if the launch catches you in the United States or Japan and you want to buy the box so that it is cheaper, when you get home you will find a surprise.
As if we were in the 90s, the ‘GTA VI’ download codes have regional blocking. This means that they can only be redeemed on PlayStation accounts that correspond to the region in which the game was purchased. What region? Well the following:
- Brazil: Brazil
- Latin America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay
- North America: Canada and the United States
- Korea: South Korea
- Japan: Japan
- United Kingdom: United Kingdom
- Saudi Arabia and UAE: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
- Rest of Asia: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan
- Rest of EMEA and Asia: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine
On Xbox there is no this restriction and the explanation It’s not that it’s Rockstar’s whim. (although they are the ones who do not release a physical version), but rather the operation of this type of codes on PlayStation. These are tied to regional clusters defined by Sony and the system checks the region of the PSN account when trying to redeem them.
It is not a new operation, but it emphasizes even more that we should stop calling what they are going to launch for ‘GTA VI’ a “physical edition” because the regional block itself implies that It is a digital product with the same restrictions as any other digital product.
It is something that makes us see with better eyes that other tool to put more obstacles to the physical format and the belonging of video games: the Game Key Card of nintendo switch 2.
The Japanese ‘GTA VI’ that expires
In the end, if you want to buy a copy of ‘GTA VI’ with a box in another country (because you are there or because you import it) to save some money, it is good to know that it may not work on your console with your regular account, but in Japan there is a twist which further clouds the 100% digital future that Sony (and the rest of the companies) is drawing.
Because, due to local regulations, ‘GTA VI’ box codes will expire after 170 days. That is, if a game sits on a store shelf for six months and someone buys it in May when those 170 days have passed, when they get home they will have an empty plastic box with a code that doesn’t work.
It is no longer just a problem for the user, but also for some stores that they must think very hard about how much stock they buy or They will be left with material, literally, dead on the shelves.
In the middle of the debate about the preservation of video games and our rights as consumers, the case of ‘GTA VI’ is very interesting because if it does not finally come out in a real physical edition, with the game inside and no download requiredor in a platform like GoGwe would be talking about a generational game that will mark an era whose preservation through legal means is subject to Sony and Rockstar maintaining access and servers for life.
With the recent decisions of the Japanese company, the prospects are not good.
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