Take-Two CEO Explains GTA 6's Console-First Release Strategy
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick explains the decision to launch Grand Theft Auto VI on consoles before PC, emphasizing the importance of serving the core console audience first.
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has addressed the decision to release Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) initially on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles, with a PC version to follow at a later date. In an interview with Bloomberg during the Interactive Innovation Conference in Las Vegas, Zelnick emphasized that Rockstar Games prioritizes its core audience, which predominantly resides on consoles.
"Rockstar always starts on console because I think with regard to a release like that you're judged by serving the core," Zelnick stated. "Like really serving the core consumer. If your core consumer isn't there, if they're not served first and best, you kind of don't hit your other consumers."
Zelnick clarified that this approach is specific to Rockstar Games, noting that other studios under Take-Two, such as 2K, experience a significant portion of their sales from PC players. He also dismissed speculation that the console-first release strategy is influenced by exclusive agreements with platform holders like Sony, stating, "Historically, Rockstar's gone to console first."
Grand Theft Auto VI is slated for release on November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with a PC version expected to follow at a later date.