Rockstar founder Dan Houser says companies should offer physical discs if players want them

Former Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser has weighed in on the ongoing debate over physical and digital game releases, saying companies should continue offering games on disc if that is what players want.

Houser shared his views during a discussion with IGN at San Diego Comic-Con while promoting projects from his current company, Absurd Ventures.

The conversation came weeks after Sony announced it will discontinue physical disc games for PlayStation consoles from January 2028, a decision that has sparked widespread discussion among players.

Asked whether he cared about games continuing to launch on disc, Houser said he was personally indifferent but believed consumer demand should guide publishers.

“I don’t know that I care, but if people want that, I think companies should provide it,” he said.

“But I don’t know that I personally care. And I also think that the ability to update games – as critical as people are of digital releases – the ability to update and fix problems in games has been really useful for the quality of games.”

Houser was joined by former Rockstar writer and radio host Lazlow Jones, who said he appreciated both physical and digital formats for different reasons.

“I mean, we all have that sort of feeling when you get that copy and you put the disc in the console,” Jones said.

“But I also have to say I really like being at the airport and going ‘oh cool, I can download some quick games to my Steam Deck for this 12-hour flight’.”

Jones added that creating Absurd Ventures' American Caper comic series had reminded him of the satisfaction of producing a physical product after years working primarily in digital games.

“That’s what’s been interesting,” he said. “We’ve worked in digital together for a lot of years and then making a physical product of a comic book is a different creative process, but it’s also just really fulfilling to have a physical thing so you can say ‘look, we made a thing’.”

Houser agreed, adding, “I love physical media. I think everyone does.”

During the discussion, Houser also revealed that Absurd Ventures is currently developing two open-world games, describing one as a comedy action adventure and the other as “definitely less of a comedy”.