Some international physical copies of GTA VI could be exchanged without opening the box

Less than a week before Grand Theft Auto VI released into the wild, reports online began circulating of a potentially serious problem with the retail version of the game. According to posts on ResetEra and

The code is visible because, rather than including a paper insert with the code or covering it with a scratch-off covering, it would be printed on the inside cover of the GTA VI box. Only a few photos of codes lit up on the side of the game box are circulating currently, so it’s hard to tell if this is actually a widespread issue. ResetEra’s post indicates that it may be limited to international copies of the game, as the US game box includes media that camouflages the code from the outside.

Fans have discovered that the entire GTA 6 redeem code on the physical copy can be seen without opening the box by shining a powerful flashlight on the side at an angle. pic.twitter.com/YtN5QhC81R

– GTA 6 Countdown ⏳ (@GTAVI_Countdown) November 13, 2026

Engadget asked Take-Two for comment on the reports and whether it was aware of any issues with GTA VI game boxes. We will update this article if we receive a response.

If the problem is widespread, it could pose a serious problem for anyone trying to purchase a physical version of the game. All you need is a code, your console and an internet connection to download GTA VIand if you manage to get these codes without purchasing or even opening the retail box, it might be possible to purchase a pre-used copy of the game.

This all depends on Take-Two and Rockstar Games’ strained definition of what a “physical” version of a game is. Traditional physical releases include a disc or cartridge that, while it doesn’t include the entire game or its final version, acts as a sort of key that you need to play. Best of all, these keys can be given to someone else if they want to play. Rockstar’s Physical Exam GTA VI the release is just another way to purchase the digital version of the game, and due to the nature of digital game licensing, it’s not really something you can own. If this problem affects a large number of copies, it may also be a game that you cannot play.