Rockstar Co-founder Weighs in on Demand for Physical Games
WHO:
Sportskeeda - Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games
IGN - Lazlow Jones, former Rockstar employee and current collaborator with Houser at Absurd Ventures
WHAT:
Push Square - Recent Circana data revealed that only seven boxed PlayStation games exceeded 100,000 copies sold in 2026, with the highest selling no more than 275,000 units.
Push Square - Historical records indicate that as many as 100 physical PlayStation games exceeded 100,000 copies sold during the same period in 2008.
IGN - Dan Houser expressed that if players want physical game releases, "companies should provide it."
IGN - Houser stated, "I don't know that I care, but if people want that, I think companies should provide it."
IGN - Houser acknowledged the usefulness of digital releases for updating and fixing problems in games.
IGN - PlayStation confirmed it would cease production of new physical games starting in January 2028.
IGN - GTA 6 will not ship on a disc when it launches in November.
WHERE:
Sportskeeda - San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2026
WHEN:
IGN - PlayStation will stop producing new physical games starting in January 2028.
IGN - GTA 6 is set to launch in November.
WHY:
IGN - The conversation around physical and digital game releases has been sparked by recent changes in the gaming space.
HOW:
Push Square - Lazlow Jones mentioned the fulfillment of creating a physical comic book, stating, "it’s also just really fulfilling to have a physical thing so you can say, ‘Look, we made a thing.’"
IGN - Houser and Jones discussed their experiences and preferences regarding physical and digital games during a conversation at SDCC.
(UPDATED July 26, 2026 16:18 UTC)
Recent data from Circana shows that only seven boxed PlayStation games have sold over 100,000 copies in 2026, with the top seller reaching just 275,000 units. In contrast, historical records from 2008 reveal that as many as 100 physical PlayStation games surpassed that same sales milestone. Lazlow Jones expressed the joy of creating a physical comic book, saying, "it’s also just really fulfilling to have a physical thing so you can say, ‘Look, we made a thing.’"
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(UPDATED July 26, 2026 11:20 UTC)
At San Diego Comic-Con, Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games, emphasized that if players desire physical game releases, companies should cater to that demand, even though he personally feels indifferent about it. He also acknowledged the advantages of digital releases for updating and fixing games, while noting that GTA 6 will not be available on a disc when it launches in November. This discussion comes as PlayStation prepares to halt production of new physical games starting in January 2028, reflecting the ongoing debate around the future of gaming formats.