A simple flashlight beam can read download codes right through closed packaging on physical PEGI copies of Grand Theft Auto 6, leaving buyers vulnerable to theft before the game even launches on November 19, GameSpot reported.
GTA 6 Physical Covers Leak Download Codes via Flashlight
- Physical PEGI copies of Grand Theft Auto 6 print download codes directly on the inside of the cover rather than on a separate insert.
- Shining a flashlight through the exterior of the closed case lets a thief see the code in reverse and steal it.
- North American copies escape this flaw because Rockstar intentionally obscured the codes, and the game unlocks across platforms on November 19.
Retail Box Vulnerability
Rockstar ditched traditional discs for the physical launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, selling the title instead as a digital code-in-box at retailers starting this week. Forum users on ResetEra discovered that PEGI regional packaging prints the download code directly on the inside of the cover. When someone focuses a flashlight on the exterior of the closed game case, the text appears in reverse, visible from the outside.
This oversight creates an immediate risk for brick-and-mortar shoppers. Anyone can walk into a store, use a pocket light to read the reverse-printed numbers, redeem the code, and leave the eventual retail buyer with a dead case. North American copies avoid the problem because the manufacturer intentionally obscured the interior text. Rockstar has not yet explained why that protective strategy skipped other regions.
Platform Unlock Schedule
Code-in-box copies and digital preorders for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S all unlock on November 19.
| Platform | Release Format | Unlock Date |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | Code-in-Box / Digital | November 19 |
| Xbox Series X|S | Code-in-Box / Digital | November 19 |
Code-in-box copies, as well as digital preorders, all unlock for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19.
