While Grand Theft Auto 6 is likely going to be one of the biggest launches that the gaming industry has seen, it will still be following in the footsteps of Rockstar Games’ other releases by coming to consoles first. Speaking to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, CEO of parent company Take-Two Interactive, Strauss Zelnick, has revealed that the decision to come to console first isn’t part of any deal signed with Sony or Microsoft. Rather, it is because console players are seen as a “core audience”.
“Rockstar always starts on console because I think with regard to a release like that you’re judged by serving the core,” Zelnick said. “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.” When asked about whether Take-Two Interactive had signed a deal with Sony to put off the PC release, Zelnick simply said, “No. I mean, historically, Rockstar’s gone to console first.”
It is worth noting that, even as far back as the first 3D game in the GTA franchise—Grand Theft Auto 3—Rockstar Games has focused on bringing its games to consoles first. The title was released on PS2 in 2001, followed by a 2002 release on PC and a 2003 release on Xbox. More recent times have seen similar gaps in releases, with Grand Theft Auto 5 originally coming out in 2013 on PS3 and Xbox 360, before coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC in 2015.
Red Dead Redemption 2 also saw a similar gap, first coming out on PS4 and Xbox One in 2018, and then coming to PC a full year later in 2019.
As for the pressure felt by Take-Two Interactive as we get closer to Grand Theft Auto 6‘s November 19th release date, Zelnick noted that the company wants to “deliver to consumers something that’s never been experienced before,” which brings with it understandable levels of tension. However, he said that, “Being on the sidelines but pretty close to the front of the sidelines is very, very exciting. And terrifying. Because the expectations are so high.”
Zelnick had previously spoken about being scared whenever it’s time for Take-Two Interactive to release a major game. Speaking at the Interactive Innovation Conference, he said, “I run so scared with regard to all of our releases — just multiply it by a billion this time around.” He went on to note that, “And I think the minute you stop running scared, you better get a different job if you’re in the entertainment business. Because [if] you claim success before you have it — you will largely be wrong.”
Marketing for Grand Theft Auto 6 is also likely going to start soon. Zelnick was asked about this back in February, where he spoke about how, despite there being plenty of anticipation for the title, Take-Two Interactive also has to ensure that there is an appropriate level of hype and awareness for it as well.
“I think there’s a difference between awareness and energy, and we need to create the energy,” he explained. “We do have the awareness, the anticipation is huge, it’s bigger than ever before, but in our business you do have to tell people what’s coming and our consumers wanna know that this is gonna be great and they wanna see what the visuals look like.”
