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The story
The physical edition of GTA6 doesn’t include a disc — instead, it ships with a redemption code. But a report on X revealed that shining a powerful flashlight at an angle through the side of the box lets you read that code without ever opening it. The thread split over this: some argued “the code can’t be used until it’s scanned at checkout,” while others countered “then shining a light on it in-store isn’t a problem either.” Suspicion also spread that so-called “unopened” used copies might secretly already have redeemed codes. On top of that, reports originating from Reddit about defective copies with the code field left blank (unprinted) are also making the rounds.
What people said
A fan discovered that shining a powerful flashlight at an angle through the side of the box lets you read the entire redemption code for the physical edition of GTA 6 without opening it
Easy money right there
Exactly
That's why "unopened" copies sold on Mercari (Japan's big resale app) are probably already redeemed
Maybe Rockstar built this in on purpose.
Shining a light on it in the store isn't even shoplifting lol
GTA6 probably won't even qualify for used buyback
Doubt it
There's no way to prove the customer didn't use it themselves
Bet the culprit just turns around and sells that code online
The code can't be used until it's scanned at the register~
Oh really
So it's totally fine if people are popping camera flashes at the shelf then!
Wish that were true
But it's not, which is exactly why this is such a problem
Reddit's full of posts about it
Adding insult to injury — well, kind of self-inflicted, but seriously, what's going on with their quality control?
If it's just the code that's missing, that's not so bad
But if it's literally a blank sheet of paper in there with nothing printed at all
then there's no way to even prove it's defective
A few cases are circulating on X too
Can't believe that actually happens
Actually it does come with a huge poster, so wouldn't that make this trick impossible?
Being able to peek probably rakes in more impressions, right?
There's no way that's not a dummy/display box
Are there even stores these days that put the actual product out on the shelf?
Overseas stores just put the real product out though?
Why would you even question that it's single-use?
Background and Key Points of This Topic
Physical editions of video games increasingly skip the disc entirely, packaging only a download redemption code while the game itself is delivered as a digital purchase. The core issue here is a physical, structural one — since the code is printed on the inside of the box, shining a strong light through the side lets it be read from outside — and it isn’t a defect unique to GTA6. The thread split between two theories: one holding that even if the code is read and used, it shouldn’t actually activate unless the purchase is processed (linked) at the register, and the other countering that if that’s true, shining a light on the box in-store to check it causes no real harm and isn’t illegal. The actual specifications of the retailer’s sales system couldn’t be confirmed within the thread. There were also separate concerns about the possibility that “unopened” used copies already have redeemed codes, as well as reports of defective copies where the code field itself was left blank due to a printing error — worth noting this is a distinct quality-control issue, separate from the flashlight trick itself.
*This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary of the 5ch (Hardware/Industry [Geha]) thread “[Good News] Trick Discovered for Checking Physical Edition GTA6’s Redemption Code Without Opening the Box!“.
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