Physical copies of Grand Theft Auto 6 for PlayStation 5 sold in Japan will include download codes that expire 170 days after the game’s launch, according to details shared by publisher Take-Two Interactive.
The expiry period begins on November 19, 2026, the confirmed release date for GTA 6, meaning the codes included with Japanese PS5 physical editions will stop working around mid-May 2027.
Take-Two confirmed the limitation through an update to its official Grand Theft Auto VI platform editions and versions support page.
The company said the expiry date is required due to regional regulations in Japan, where consumer protection laws require digital goods to display expiration information.
Unlike traditional physical game releases, the Japanese PS5 version of GTA 6 will not contain a playable disc.
Instead, the physical package will include a download code, meaning players who purchase the boxed version must redeem the code before the deadline.
For players buying the game close to launch, the 170-day period provides several months to claim the digital copy.
However, concerns have been raised about copies that remain in retail stores for extended periods, as buyers could receive a code with less time remaining before expiration.
The restriction could also affect customers purchasing GTA 6 as a gift, as a code may continue counting down from the original launch date even if the recipient does not receive the game until later.
The 170-day expiry applies specifically to PS5 physical copies sold in Japan. Digital purchases through PlayStation Network are not affected, and Xbox physical editions in Japan are not subject to the same limitation.
It is due to be the eighth main Grand Theft Auto game, following Grand Theft Auto V (2013), and the sixteenth entry overall. Set within the fictional US state of Leonida, based on Florida, the story follows the romantic criminal duo of Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos. Players will be able to freely roam Leonida’s open world, which features the Miami-inspired Vice City.
Following years of speculation and anticipation, Rockstar confirmed in February 2022 that the game was in development. That September, footage from unfinished versions was leaked in what journalists described as one of the biggest leaks in the history of the video game industry. Grand Theft Auto VI was formally revealed in December 2023. Following two delays, it is scheduled to be released on 19 November 2026 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Grand Theft Auto VI is a single-player, action-adventure game set within an open world. Its fictional US state of Leonida is based on the US state of Florida.
