Insomniac Games has assured fans not to worry: unlike the impending GTA 6, the physical edition of Marvel’s Wolverine will come with a disc when it releases exclusively on PlayStation 5 on 15th September.
It seems like a bizarre clarification to make, but following Rockstar’s announcement that Grand Theft Auto 6 would not include a disc in its physical edition – it instead comes with a download code – fans have taken to social media seeking reassurance around other upcoming games.
Under a clip shared by Insomniac featuring Wolverine kicking an opponent off the top of a truck (as Wolverine is apparently wont to do), a fan asked the question: will it come with a disc? Insomniac replied, “The physical version will include a disc in box.” Hooray?
It seems like a mundane thing to cheer for, but the concern around GTA 6 opting for a code in a box is that Rockstar’s game is so influential it might inspire other companies to do the same thing. I’ve already seen people asking Rebel Wolves if The Blood of Dawnwalker will come with a disc when it arrives on 3rd September – there was no reply, incidentally.
But why has Rockstar opted for a code in a box rather than a traditional disc? The main suspicion here is it’s in order to combat second-hand sales, because if there’s no disc, there’s nothing to resell. But it also helps the studio control pricing and avoid leaks, because no copies are in danger of escaping shop-shelves early. Connor explored these GTA 6 code-in-a-box concerns with industry analysts earlier today.
So could other games follow suit? Codes in boxes are not uncommon, especially on Switch, and perhaps GTA 6 could push the needle towards doing it for other platforms too.
We’re approaching a very busy late summer and early autumn period, as companies hurry to release their games well ahead of GTA 6. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, Star Wars Zero Company, The Blood of Dawnwalker, Phantom Blade 0, Marvel’s Wolverine, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Control Resonant, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, Gears of War E-Day, Star Wars: Galactic Racer – the list is stacked, and that’s only some of the games on the way. Will they all come on disc?
Grand Theft Auto 6 releases 19th November on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X.
