Reports claiming boxed copies expire after 170 days are false, with the deadline applying only to bonus downloadable content.
Rumours circulating on social media claiming that physical Japanese editions of Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) come with a 170-day expiration for redeeming the main game have been proven false.
The confusion began after Japanese gaming journalist Genki_JPN shared an image of a disclaimer included with the boxed Japanese version of the game. Many users mistakenly interpreted the notice to mean that buyers would permanently lose access to GTA 6 if they failed to redeem their game code within 170 days of launch.
However, Genki later deleted the original post and issued a clarification, explaining that the deadline applies only to a bonus downloadable item bundled with the physical edition—not the main GTA 6 game itself.
According to the clarification, players can redeem the primary game license at any time without worrying about an expiration date. Only the promotional bonus content included with the physical release must be claimed within the specified period.
The 170-day limit is linked to Japanese regulations rather than Rockstar Games’ policies.
Under Japan’s Payment Services Act, digital certificates, prepaid codes, in-game currency and similar digital items that remain valid for more than 180 days may be subject to additional government registration and regulatory requirements.
To avoid those legal obligations, publishers often set redemption periods of around 170 days for promotional downloadable content and other bonus digital items distributed with physical games.
The restriction does not affect ownership of the full game or the ability to activate the primary game code included with retail copies.
The clarification means players purchasing the physical Japanese edition of GTA 6 can safely redeem the main game whenever they choose. The only recommendation is to claim any bonus downloadable content within the 170-day redemption window to avoid missing out on those extras.
The misunderstanding quickly spread across social media before being corrected, highlighting how promotional notices can sometimes be misinterpreted when translated or shared without additional context.
For GTA 6 buyers in Japan, the takeaway is simple: the main game does not expire after 170 days, and only the included bonus digital content is subject to the redemption deadline.