As of 2nd September 2026, GTA VI pre-orders are estimated to have reached 4.86 million following its latest gameplay reveal.¹
While the figures don’t distinguish between digital and physical sales, the focus is on the decision to sell the boxed Standard Edition with only a download code, which raises questions about the materials used to sell a product that is downloaded digitally.
Polypropylene recycling experts at BusinessWaste.co.uk are calling on games publishers to reconsider whether full-size plastic cases are still appropriate for code-in-box releases.
What is the game box for?
A traditional game case protects a disc that can be stored, lent, resold or passed on. Once a download code has been redeemed, the case no longer serves those practical purposes.
The code-in-box model allows game publishers to retain shelf space and offer something tangible, particularly to gamers who enjoy collecting physical products. While this also allows others who don’t wish to own the physical product a way to download the game digitally, it creates packaging for a product that’s entirely avoidable.
What are they made from?
Modern video game cases are typically made of polypropylene plastic, a lightweight, durable, and relatively inexpensive material that resists breakage. A printed paper cover is normally placed inside the clear outer sleeve, with further paper inserts sometimes included in the case.
Polypropylene can be recycled, but it is not accepted in every household recycling collection. The paper and plastic may also need to be separated before disposal, increasing the chance that the complete case is placed in general waste.
What waste could be created?
Some players may keep these game cases for years, so it would be wrong to describe every case as immediate plastic waste. However, each one still needs to be manufactured, printed and transported before reaching both retail stores and homes. With no disc inside, publishers should consider whether a full-size plastic case is the most suitable format.
The way games are sold has changed faster than the packaging around them. While recycling remains an important step, reducing plastic use and waste remains the priority.
This is particularly relevant right now in the UK, where extended producer responsibility for packaging is shifting more of the cost of managing packaging waste towards the businesses placing it on the market. While it doesn’t determine how an individual game should be sold, it does support efforts to reduce unnecessary packaging.
Could publishers offer something different?
Removing physical retail options altogether would reduce purchase choices for consumers and stop retail stores from benefiting from such a high-profile release. A better response would be to reconsider what the physical edition needs to look like.
As the release is over two months away, we don’t know what the physical version currently looks like. But if the game arrives in a standard plastic game case, it may only include a sheet of paper or card with the download code.
If the industry were to reconsider the physical version of the game, there are multiple ways that they could approach this. Download codes could be sold in lightweight recycled card sleeves, or in the popular ‘Steelbook’ format, which is seen as a more collectable format, and is a more environmentally friendly option should customers decide to discard it in the future. Another alternative is digital gift cards, which are ideal for those purchasing the game as a present.
Publishers could be clearer about the weight, materials and recyclability of their packaging. This would help customers understand what they are buying and place more pressure on the industry to reduce materials where they add little practical value.
Mark Hall, Polypropylene recycling expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk, said:
“The bigger concern with such high-profile releases like GTA VI is what happens if code-in-box becomes an industry standard. While one game will not transform packaging waste on its own, continuing with this approach across future releases would keep plastic cases in circulation long after discs have largely disappeared.
“For a launch of this size, Rockstar should be transparent about how many game cases are being produced, what materials they contain and what happens to unsold stock. Without that information, it’s difficult to understand the full waste impact.
“This release could be a useful precedent going forward. If a release with this level of demand can move away from traditional packaging designed for physical media, other publishers would have fewer reasons to keep using it.”