Take-Two CEO expects GTA 6 to be a console seller but acknowledges massive PC market

While PS5 and Xbox Series X owners anticipate a GTA 6 release date in 2025, PC gamers are in for a longer wait. IGN recently asked Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick about the strategy of initial console exclusivity. Zelnick didn't provide a clear explanation but was confident that GTA 6 would reignite console sales.

Zelnick pointed out that some projects Take-Two Interactive is involved in release simultaneously on PCs and consoles. However, with Civilization 7's PC origins, the strategy title seems like an odd comparison. For Rockstar Games, Red Dead Redemption 2 didn't debut on PCs for more than a year after it arrived on the PS4 and Xbox One. Previously, the Windows version of GTA 5 suffered a lengthy delay before reaching the market.

In the IGN interview, Zelnick acknowledged that PC versions of games can account for 40% of sales. Still, he believes Take Two's approach with GTA 6 will prove successful. Zelnick seemed aware that Xbox Series X sales are struggling while Switch purchases have stalled. It's a lofty claim that a single title could reinvigorate the console market, but GTA 6, with its immense hype, may be up to the challenge.

PC gamers remain frustrated with an uncertain GTA 6 release date. Some players speculate that Take-Two is trying to prevent GTA 6 leaks, which are possible with finished or unfinished code floating around. Others see it as a sound business strategy, leaving enough time for gamers to complete the title's single-player campaign. Then, PC owners could revisit the game and benefit from improved performance and mods.

From what the industry knows about GTA 6, it's going to push the limits of current consoles. Rockstar Games can at least focus on optimizing performance on these systems before focusing on a PC version.