GTA 6 Players Report Issues with Physical Version Pre-Order Codes

Published Nov 14, 2026, 11:43 AM EST Ashely currently works as a news writer for Polygon. After getting her Translation degree, she was hired as a guide and news writer for GameRant and TheGamer. She enjoyed working as an author for these sites for six years, and in 2026, she started at Polygon, where she is able to continue to do what she loves: writing about video games. Some GTA 6 buyers say their code-in-a-box editions releases without... a code in the box GTA 6 players reported issues with physical preorders Grand Theft Auto 6Image: Rockstar Games Sign in to your Polygon.com account With its launch less than a week away, players all over the world have started preloading Grand Theft Auto 6 to ensure they're able to play as soon as it drops. Reports from several fans indicate that some code-in-box copies of GTA 6 include a faulty redemption leaflet, preventing buyers from claiming the game. Rockstar opted for an all-digital release for Grand Theft Auto 6 for practical reasons. Instead of a disc, physical editions include a cover with the code printed on the back — and a poster for those who pre-ordered the game. You're supposed to see the code from inside the box, as it's made of translucent plastic. Physical editions of GTA 6 without a code leave players at a loss, days before launch On Nov. 12, retailers started distributing physical pre-orders to allow players to preload GTA 6 and boot it up once it launches on Nov. 19. However, it seems that when some players opened the box, there was no code to be found. There was only a grey strip that looked similar to scratch paper but did not have the right texture, making it impossible to scratch off to reveal the code. This issue seems to be occurring on copies of the game for both Xbox and PlayStation. According to reports, certain Best Buy locations have refused to refund players, while others have been understanding and solved the problem. Amazon has also returned players' money. GameStop has reportedly told players to reach out to Rockstar, as it is a manufacturing defect. In a Reddit thread about this matter, users Scottish Pancakes and InPartis both said that Rockstar support dismissed the issue, allegedly closing their support tickets without providing any solution. The issue does not appear to be widespread, given prelaunch sales of GTA 6 thus far and the number of players affected. The biggest concern for players right now is that this issue won't be solved within the few days that are left until GTA 6 comes out, and they will find themselves unable to play on launch despite buying their copy in advance. According to Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick, Grand Theft Auto 6 didn't get a disc release because digital media is "much more convenient" than physical media. Ironically, if the game had been distributed using discs rather than codes, these issues could have been avoided. Grand Theft Auto 6 will be released on Nov. 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.