As GTA 6 publisher Take-Two revises its 2027 net bookings up to $8.2bn, Strauss Zelnick confirms its sales are “well over 90% digital”

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has defended the publisher’s decision to release Grand Theft Auto 6 exclusively in digital format, stating that “discs don’t really make sense for the consumer.” During the company’s Q1 2027 earnings call, Zelnick revealed that Take-Two’s sales are “well over 90% digitally distributed,” emphasizing that their business has already completed the transition to digital distribution.

The comments come against the backdrop of Sony’s decision to cease manufacturing physical game discs for PlayStation starting in 2028. While Zelnick declined to directly address Sony’s move, he likened physical game releases to vinyl records and defended the shift toward digital-only distribution. However, he left open the possibility of releasing a physical edition of GTA 6 at some point, noting that Take-Two would release physical copies “now and then.”

Zelnick’s position aligns with other major publishers like Capcom, which has reported similar digital sales dominance at around 90% of their business. GTA 6’s digital pre-orders have reportedly generated substantial revenue for Take-Two, demonstrating strong consumer adoption of digital formats.

The company also announced revised 2027 net bookings of $8.2 billion during the earnings call. While segments of the gaming community have expressed concerns about game preservation and consumer ownership with the decline of physical media, major publishers increasingly view digital distribution as their primary business model moving forward.

Sources

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