Rockstar Games has clarified the confusion surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI’s regional restrictions after many players believed that the company had regionally locked the game’s redemption codes. In a statement, the company confirmed that the limitations are tied to PlayStation 5 (PS5) versions, adhering to the activation policies of the PlayStation Network (PSN), while the XBOX version remains regionally free.
The confusion began after retailers listed the physical version of the game as region-free during pre-orders, unaware of Sony’s strict digital marketplace restrictions. While PS5 discs are traditionally region-free, digital PSN codes are strictly locked to specific storefront regions.
Meaning a code printed for North America will completely fail to activate in Europe, Asia or any other region. This created confusion among players, with many assuming that Rockstar Games had regionally locked GTA VI.
Facing backlash, the company took to its support page clarifying that the regional restrictions are limited to the physical versions for the PS5, adhering to the company’s storefront policies. The Xbox versions will have no restrictions due to not having any regional policies.
“The digital download code (PS5 version) for GTA VI works differently depending on the platform and country of purchase. It is recommended that you buy and play from a retailer that is in the country of your platform account to avoid potential activation problems,” said Rockstar Games on its support page.
In another statement, they also clarified that unused codes of the Japanese version on PS5 will expire in 170 days after release. According to the statement, only the unused codes will expire, and the game will remain with the player’s account. This adheres to Japan’s Payment Service Act (2009), a law which explicitly requires game download codes to expire in six months or less.
