fans who pre-ordered the physical version of the game have started to receive their copies in the mail – and many have been left disappointed.
officially launches next week (November 19) and fans have been able to pre-load the game since Tuesday (November 10) so they can dive into Vice City as soon as the game goes live.
While Rockstar Games aren’t making any physical discs for , fans have been able to pre-order physical boxes that contain a download code – and they’ve started to be delivered.
Some fans were excited about the new screenshots on the back of the physical box but others aren’t impressed that the only other thing inside the physical edition of is a double-sided poster. The freebie features the game’s artwork but, unlike previous editions of , there is no version of the map.
“No map is actually pretty disappointing,” wrote one Reddit user. “What is even the point of physical editions if we don’t even get maps? Will they add maps to editions sent out after launch,” said another. “It’s fucking crazy how we don’t get much now. I loved going through the maps and instruction booklets that games used to have,” added a third. “Yeah I regret buying the ‘physical’ edition,” wrote another fan.
Sure, we aren't getting a disc for GTA 6, but at least Rockstar Games made sure to pack the physical box with various artworks and screenshots. This is going to feel so nostalgic 10 years from now.
📽️ TheSavageSouthAfrican pic.twitter.com/pwPcUMzuIi
— Grand Theft Auto 6 Alerts (@GTA6Alerts) November 11, 2026
Grand Theft Auto VI ‘Code in a box’ has finally been unboxed by an actual customer. As per reported already, it includes a double sided poster
I wish the GTA 6 box had the map like 5 did but this dual-sided poster is sick pic.twitter.com/PMW3BTMOxn
— Rafael @ Home (1-7) (@AceTrainerRaf) November 13, 2026
Rockstar’s decision to not give a full physical release has been met with backlash from fans with some game stores even boycotting the release.
However there are plenty of ways to give Rockstar Games your money. They’ve launched a premium Grand Theft Auto 6: The Goodtime State – Vice City Collection which features “all the essentials for a good time” but doesn’t include a copy of the game, while a number of vinyl variants of ‘Grand Theft Auto 6: The Album’ are available to pre-order. A X Selfridges merch pop-up also opened in central London earlier this week.
Hundreds of independent record stores are set to host early listening parties for ‘Grand Theft Auto 6: The Album’ next Wednesday ahead of the album’s full release on November 19.