Video Games Plus, a gaming retailer based out of Canada, and an independent gaming retailer known as Loot Box Gaming have both stated that they won’t be selling GTA 6.
Not huge retailers in the grand scheme of things, but interesting to see at least some taking a stand especially when they are almost certainly losing out on money by doing so.
Sorry, I don’t see an issue here. Everyone is perfectly happy giving Steam loads of money for games they’ll never physically own, but when it comes to consoles, suddenly we’re supposed to make a stand?
No. The overwhelming majority of game sales are digital downloads.
If you think having a disc somehow solves this, try playing Gran Turismo on the PlayStation 4. Sure, you get a disc, but you still have to sit through roughly six hours of downloads and installation before the game is actually playable.
The lack of a disc isn’t the issue.
You indeed failed to see the issue.
It is not really wise to compare Steam with the console ecosystem, especially when there exists several alternatives to obtain games on PC.
Physical discs matter more on consoles than on PCs, given that there is not a whole lot one can do if their account gets banned for the silliest of reasons, or if one wants to share a game.
Also, have you thought that you might be referring to two different sets of customers: one that is fine with digital purchases on Steam/PSN, and the other that strongly supports physical purchases?
Using a single example of GT is insufficient to make a broad statement like the one you made.