Kotaku reports players say some GTA 6 boxed copies have missing or already-used codes

Kotaku reported on November 14 that some players who picked up advance boxed copies of GTA 6 say the download code inside was missing or had already been claimed. These are player claims made on social media, and Kotaku did not confirm them.

The boxes hold a code and no disc, as Rockstar has said. Kotaku wrote that the code is printed on top of a grey, patterned strip that looks like a scratch-off panel but is not one. It said pictures and videos of boxes with no code have appeared on Reddit and X, and that some players claim they were refused refunds or stonewalled by Rockstar's support line.

Some players have put forward theories about how codes could be read before sale. Kotaku said its editor-in-chief tested one of them on his own copy and it did not work, and it called that explanation a bit of a yarn. It told readers to stay skeptical, since rumours about GTA are common, but said misprinted boxes with no code are well within the realm of possibility.

How many boxes are affected is not known, and nothing we read gives a number. Kotaku said it had reached out to Rockstar for comment. We found no statement from Rockstar, Take-Two or any retailer.

PlayStation's support page for the GTA VI code-in-box version covers both cases. For a code that shows as already used, it tells buyers to check their PlayStation Store order history, check whether the code was entered on a different account, and contact the retailer if the problem remains. For a damaged or missing code, and for refunds, it says to contact the retailer. It also advises buying only from reputable retailers.

The same page says the code can be used as soon as you receive your copy, so the game can be pre-loaded, but that GTA VI cannot be played until November 19, 2026.