GTA VI code-in-box release raises questions over video game packaging

The use of physical packaging for digitally downloaded video games has prompted discussion over whether traditional plastic cases remain appropriate for code-in-box releases.

According to figures supplied by BusinessWaste.co.uk, pre-orders for GTA VI were estimated to have reached 4.86 million as of 2 September 2026 following the game’s latest gameplay reveal. The figures do not distinguish between digital and physical orders.

Rockstar Games has confirmed that the physical Standard Edition will contain a download code rather than a game disc. However, details of the final packaging format, including its size and materials, have not yet been confirmed.

BusinessWaste.co.uk, which provides waste management and recycling services, has called on games publishers to consider alternative formats for code-in-box products, particularly where conventional full-size plastic cases might otherwise be used.

Traditional video game cases have historically provided protection and storage for physical discs, which can be retained, lent or resold. With a code-in-box product, the packaging instead provides a physical retail presence and potentially a collectable item, but does not need to protect the game itself.

If the physical edition uses a conventional video game case, these are commonly manufactured from polypropylene (PP), a lightweight and durable plastic. They typically also contain a printed paper cover within a clear outer sleeve, with additional paper or card inserts sometimes included.

Polypropylene is recyclable, although collection arrangements vary and consumers may need to separate different packaging components before disposal.

BusinessWaste.co.uk said it would be inaccurate to assume that every case immediately becomes waste, as consumers may retain physical game packaging for many years. Nevertheless, the company argues that the materials, manufacturing and transportation associated with code-in-box packaging should be considered when determining the most appropriate format.

The issue comes as packaging producers and users face increasing pressure to reduce material consumption and improve recyclability. In the UK, extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging is also shifting more of the costs associated with managing packaging waste towards businesses that place packaging on the market.

Rather than removing physical retail versions entirely, alternative formats could allow publishers to maintain a presence in stores while reducing the amount of packaging material used.

Potential options suggested by BusinessWaste.co.uk include lightweight recycled-card sleeves for download codes, smaller-format packaging or gift-card-style products. Collectable formats could also provide an alternative for consumers who specifically value a physical product alongside their digital purchase.

BusinessWaste.co.uk has also suggested that publishers provide clearer information about the weight, materials and recyclability of video game packaging, allowing consumers to better understand the materials associated with their purchase.

As video game distribution continues to shift towards digital downloads, the debate highlights a wider packaging question: whether physical packaging formats originally designed to protect a product should evolve when that product is no longer physically contained inside them.