Strauss Zelnick, the chief executive of Take-Two Interactive, spoke with CNBC about the development plans for Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6). The interview touched on how the company approaches progress and quality in its flagship series, offering a snapshot of strategic thinking at the highest level.
According to Zelnick, the number of bugs encountered during development serves as a gauge for a project’s stage rather than a sole measure of progress. He emphasized that the aim is to ship products with as few defects as possible, but he added that GTA 6 is prioritizing a distinctive, unforgettable gameplay experience over simply minimizing bug counts. The remark underscored a shift from pure bug avoidance to delivering a standout player experience that could redefine expectations for open-world titles.
Zelnick also acknowledged the broader challenges facing the gaming industry, yet he reiterated Take-Two’s confidence in GTA 6, projecting a fall 2025 release. The company has narrowed its public timeline to a concrete timeframe, signaling its belief in the project’s readiness and potential success despite market headwinds.
Details about GTA 6 remain sparse. The game is widely expected to feature two protagonists, including a female lead named Lucia and her partner. It remains unclear whether both characters will be playable or how the player will switch between them. The narrative is set in a fictional city inspired by Vice City, within a fictional state called Leonidas, continuing the franchise’s tradition of imaginative geography and atmosphere that fans have come to anticipate.
GTA 6 is anticipated to release in the fall of 2025, with discussion surrounding support for last-generation PlayStation and Xbox consoles still underway as developers balance performance and scope across platforms.
In related news, a separate legal discussion in Russia noted that fines could be imposed on individuals who download pirated versions of video games, reflecting ongoing concerns about piracy and enforcement in digital entertainment markets.