GTA 6 Boosts Console Sales Amidst PC Delay
The release of GTA 6 is expected to drive console sales, with Zelnick citing the game as a reason for a "meaningful uptick" in console sales in 2025. The company's support for Switch 2 and its historical strategy of releasing games on consoles before PC suggest that GTA 6 will be a major player in the gaming market, even if PC gamers have to wait a little longer to get their hands on the game.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has outlined the company's approach to the PC launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, suggesting that the game could drive console sales ahead of its release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in Fall 2025, with no PC version announced at launch.
Zelnick expressed enthusiasm for the PC gaming market, citing the potential for PC versions of multiplatform games to generate significant sales, with some titles reaching 40% of overall sales or more. However, he did not confirm a simultaneous PC release for GTA 6, indicating that PC gamers may have to wait until 2026 at the earliest to play the game.
The delay in the PC release of GTA 6 is consistent with Rockstar's historical strategy of initially releasing games on consoles before porting them to PC. This approach has been successful in the past, with console sales driven by the release of popular titles like GTA 6. Zelnick believes that the game will help boost console sales, which have been plummeting in recent times, and is unconcerned about the current sales trend.
Take-Two Interactive has also expressed strong support for Nintendo's Switch 2 console, with Zelnick stating that the company "fully expects to support Switch 2" with a broader slate of releases on the platform. This is a positive development for Switch 2, as Take-Two has historically supported the Switch on a game-by-game basis.
As GTA 6 fans eagerly await the second trailer, the company's approach to the PC launch has raised questions about the timing of the release. While Zelnick is confident that PC gamers will still get to play the game, the delay in the PC release may impact sales, particularly given the growing popularity of PC gaming, with PC gaming sales eclipsing console sales in 2024.