GTA 6 PS5 physical copies in Japan will have 170-day download code expiry

Japanese PS5 copies of GTA 6 include download codes that expire 170 days after launch due to regional regulations

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.