Generative AI in GTA 6: Take-Two CEO addresses development approach

The use of artificial intelligence in game development is currently a hot topic. Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima, for example, believes it will significantly reshape the gaming industry over the next 5 to 10 years. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has now also shared his perspective on the issue in relation to GTA 6. The takeaway: AI will play a role, but not in the creative aspects of the game’s development.

According to Zelnick, the game worlds at Rockstar Games are still crafted entirely by hand. Vice City is being built “building by building, street by street.” In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, he confirmed that procedural or generative content plays no role in the development of GTA VI.

However, that does not mean Take-Two is rejecting AI outright. As Zelnick explains, the publisher has been using machine learning and AI systems for years – strictly as supportive tools. The focus is on boosting efficiency, cutting costs, and optimizing workflows. According to Zelnick, hundreds of AI pilot projects are currently underway across various studios, though none are aimed at creative content creation. He made his stance on AI and creativity unmistakably clear: “There is no creativity that can exist by definition in any AI model, because it is data-driven.”

Release date confirmed once again

What should also be welcome news for fans: In its latest quarterly report, Take-Two once again reaffirmed the planned release date for GTA 6. According to the report, the game is set to launch on November 19, 2026. At launch, it will be available exclusively on PlayStation 5 (currently priced at $490 on Amazon) and Xbox Series X|S. A PC version has yet to be officially announced.