Engadget slams GTA VI physical edition as 'DRM in a box' amid industry pricing shift
Publication argues that code-only physical release sets concerning precedent for consumers and publishers alike
Engadget has published an opinion piece criticising the physical edition of Grand Theft Auto VI, describing the product as an "$80 DRM in a box" that contains only a redemption code rather than a physical disc. The article argues that the price point, which exceeds the standard $70 for AAA titles, sets a concerning precedent for the industry. The commentary highlights broader concerns regarding digital rights management, the erosion of game ownership, and the impact of rising costs on consumers amidst a high cost of living. It contrasts this trend with preservation efforts by platforms such as GOG and the advocacy of the Stop Killing Games movement.
The commentary notes that while $80 is becoming more common, citing Nintendo’s $80 Mario Kart World in 2025 and planned Switch 2 releases, Rockstar’s pricing feels like a significant turning point. Xbox initially teased an $80 price point for first-party games in 2025 but backtracked shortly after. The piece argues that the doors were cracked, but now they are wide open, allowing a wave of $80 AAA games to flood the market.
The article contrasts the current state of game ownership with historical DRM issues from the 2000s, such as BioShock, Mass Effect, and Assassin’s Creed 2, where publishers used always-on authentication and proprietary stores. It highlights that players felt they did not actually own their purchased games, leading to broad pushback. However, as broadband expanded and downloads became more common, the market leaned into convenience, with Valve and console platforms now controlling access to libraries.
Consumer protections are on the rise in the video game space, alongside efforts to preserve the industry's history. The grassroots Stop Killing Games movement has been advocating against publishers that remove titles from players' libraries, though it recently failed to convince the European Commission to mandate support for discontinued games. Meanwhile, the GOG storefront remains free of DRM, and in 2024 launched its Preservation Program aimed at adapting historic games for modern hardware.
The program has preserved 300 classic games so far, including Metro 2033, The Witcher, and Resident Evil. The article concludes that the $80 GTA VI physical edition without any physical media is exactly what should be expected from the existing AAA machine, perpetuating crunch-layoff cycles and raising the baseline price of all AAA games while solidifying strict DRM control structures that benefit publishers over players.
