Reports say a strong flashlight shone at a sealed GTA 6 PS5 case can reveal the download code inside, five days before the game unlocks. If the method works, someone could read a code through the case and redeem it before the buyer does.
Push Square’s Sammy Barker relays reports from Reddit and ResetEra. They claim that light shone at the side of the case passes into the empty box and makes the code on the insert visible. The first widely shared report came from Reddit user u/FernandoRocker in r/videogames, who also described sealed copies arriving with codes already redeemed. According to Engadget, the X account @GTAVI_Countdown posted a clip of the trick on 13 November.
Which copies may be affected?
None of this is confirmed, and the packaging seems to decide a lot. Push Square says the US release has a camouflaged pattern around the code, so light gets into the box, but the code stays unreadable. Some copies with a PEGI age rating have only a plain black strip behind the code instead, and GamesRadar says that version could be vulnerable. A ResetEra thread cited by Archyde also suggests the flaw may affect only international editions.
Players disagree on whether the included poster insert blocks the light. Some say they’ve replicated the trick; others say it can’t be done with a sealed copy. Dexerto reports that French outlet Journal du Geek said the method hasn’t worked consistently, with codes in France printed in dark grey against black. Dexerto also reports that some have suggested the original viral image was edited to exaggerate how clearly the code could be seen.
What the tests found
GamesRadar’s Dustin Bailey tried it on his own US PS5 copy, and it didn’t work. His colleague Catherine got the same result with a UK PS5 copy, and Bailey couldn’t find anyone reporting a stolen code.
Most retailers keep their games behind locked glass cases, so a prospective code thief would probably have to buy the game, hope that it’s a black background version, get an unusually powerful flashlight, shine it in, and then convince the retailer to take the game back for a refund.
Dustin Bailey, GamesRadar
It’s unclear whether a code that hasn’t been scanned at a till would even redeem. One reader reply on Happy Gamer argued it wouldn’t work until someone buys the game, but none of the sources settles it.
Rockstar hasn’t commented. Make Tech Easier reports that GameSpot asked Rockstar for an explanation, and no response has been reported. Engadget has asked Take-Two whether it’s aware of any issues with the boxes.
What buyers can check
Engadget calls the boxed edition just another way to buy the digital game, a point Tbreak covered when Rockstar confirmed GTA VI would ship with no disc. According to GamesRadar, physical copies started shipping to early buyers this week. Make Tech Easier reports that Rockstar’s support page says code-in-box copies can’t be played until 19 November.
If you’ve got a copy, look at the panel behind the code. US copies have a camouflage pattern that hides it, while some PEGI copies have only a plain black strip. The pre-load opened on 10 November at up to 212 GB, as our GTA 6 price and pre-load guide explains. You’ll also need update 1.002.000 installed before the game unlocks on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on 19 November.
