GTA 6 physical PS5 codes in Japan expire 170 days from release, not purchase
Remember when we found out the physical edition in Japan is just a code in a box, no disc? That was already a letdown for collectors. Now it turns out those codes have a hard expiration date, and the clock starts ticking on November 19, 2026, the game's launch day, not when you actually buy it.
Push Square picked up on this from Rockstar's own support page. The text says the code is valid for 170 days after release. So if you grab a copy in, say, April 2027, you might be holding a dead voucher. That's rough for anyone who likes to keep a sealed copy or buys late.
They're blaming regional regulations in Japan, which I guess makes sense on some bureaucratic level, but it still stings. You're paying full price for a box with a piece of paper that has a built-in self-destruct timer. At that point, why even bother with a physical edition? Just sell a download card at the register.
I know most people will redeem day one, but this sets a weird precedent. What if other regions start doing the same? I'd rather have a disc that works forever, even if it's just a license key on a piece of plastic. At least that doesn't expire.
Source: Push Square · Curated content.