Rockstar Co-Founder And GTA Co-Creator On Physical Games: Companies Should Provide It If People Want It
Overview & Key Takeaways
Dan Houser, the co-founder of Rockstar Games and co-creator of the GTA franchise, has commented on the ongoing discussion and debate about physical games in the wake of Sony's decision to stop supporting discs in 2028.
Speaking to IGN, Houser said, "I don't know that I care." But he said, "If people want that, I think companies should provide it."
"But I don't know that I personally care," he said.
He went on to say that one of the benefits of digital games is "the ability to update and fix problems," and this has been "really useful for the quality of games."
A scene from GTA 6.
Houser left Rockstar in 2020. His brother, Sam Houser, remains at Rockstar ahead of GTA 6's release in November. Dan Houser now works at Absurd Ventures with another former Rockstar veteran, Lazlow Jones.
Jones said in the IGN interview that he understands how good it can feel to pop a disc into a console, but he also appreciates being able to, for example, download a game at the airport and then play it on a flight. Dan Houser, meanwhile, added, "I love physical media."
Absurd Ventures is working on multiple open-world, action-adventure video game projects. One takes place in the sci-fi world of the company's A Better Paradise comic series, and the other takes place inside the studio's comedy satire world, Absurdaverse.
Sony is no longer going to support physical game discs on PlayStation starting in January 2028. The company said it's doing this due to "shifting trends in consumer preference." Experts believe the real reason is that Sony can make more money and have more control with an all-digital future.
The biggest game of 2026, GTA 6, will be a digital-exclusive. Rockstar will sell a boxed copy of GTA 6 at retail, but people are only getting a code in the box.
Dan Houser, the co-founder of Rockstar Games and co-creator of the GTA franchise, has commented on the ongoing discussion and debate about physical games in the wake of Sony’s decision to stop supporting discs in 2028.
Speaking to IGN, Houser said, “I don’t know that I care.” But he said, “If people want that, I think companies should provide it.”
“But I don’t know that I personally care,” he said.
He went on to say that one of the benefits of digital games is “the ability to update and fix problems,” and this has been “really useful for the quality of games.”
A scene from GTA 6.
Houser left Rockstar in 2020. His brother, Sam Houser, remains at Rockstar ahead of GTA 6’s release in November. Dan Houser now works at Absurd Ventures with another former Rockstar veteran, Lazlow Jones.
Jones said in the IGN interview that he understands how good it can feel to pop a disc into a console, but he also appreciates being able to, for example, download a game at the airport and then play it on a flight. Dan Houser, meanwhile, added, “I love physical media.”
Absurd Ventures is working on multiple open-world, action-adventure video game projects. One takes place in the sci-fi world of the company’s A Better Paradise comic series, and the other takes place inside the studio’s comedy satire world, Absurdaverse.
Sony is no longer going to support physical game discs on PlayStation starting in January 2028. The company said it’s doing this due to “shifting trends in consumer preference.” Experts believe the real reason is that Sony can make more money and have more control with an all-digital future.
The biggest game of 2026, GTA 6, will be a digital-exclusive. Rockstar will sell a boxed copy of GTA 6 at retail, but people are only getting a code in the box.
