physical gta 6 copies in japan expire after 170 days, what's the deal?

Caught this on Insider Gaming. In Japan, the physical editions of GTA 6 have a 170-day expiration date. Like, the disc just stops working after that. I had to read it twice.

I know we're deep in the era where a disc is basically a download token, but this feels different. 170 days is weirdly specific. Not six months, not a year. 170 days. Maybe it's tied to some online activation window? Rockstar hasn't explained it yet, but it's confirmed for the Japanese release.

I'm not in Japan so it doesn't hit me directly, but I've got friends who import special editions. Imagine paying extra for the physical map and steelbook, then the disc turns into a coaster before summer 2027. That stings. I get that the online component might need a check-in, but the single-player? Come on.

It makes me wonder if other regions will see something similar. Probably not, since Japan's market has its own quirks, but still. I remember when you could buy a game and it was yours forever. Now it's like renting with extra steps. Anyway, if you're planning to import, keep an eye on that date. Would suck to unseal a collector's item and find out it's already dead.

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Source: Insider Gaming · Curated content.