During a recent interview with The Game Business, Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick talked at length about Grand Theft Auto 6. He backed review scores for the anticipated title and addressed rumours about employees leaving after its release, among other topics.
Take-Two boss reiterates that professional review scores matter
Speaking with The Game Business, Zelnick insisted that review scores remain as important as they've ever been ahead of the global release of the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6.
He highlighted that Rockstar Games' history — with titles like GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 consistently landing in the high 90s on Metacritic — directly reflects the studio's "commitment to quality." For Take-Two, these scores aren't just vanity metrics; they are essential indicators of whether the game has met the "gold standard" fans expect.
Zelnick also told The Game Business that the critical reception was important for the upcoming open-world action game, and that it matters as much today "as it has in the past." At the same time, he acknowledged that the media landscape has fundamentally changed since GTA V launched in 2013.
As a result, Take-Two is ready if GTA VI faces "dissenting voices" from the moment it hits the market. Its boss noted that, unlike the early 2010s, when it was easier to control the narrative by selecting a small group of trusted journalists for early access, social media, streamers, and content creators dictate the discourse today.
GTA 6 will drive console sales
A major worry for fans and pundits is the rising component costs for video game hardware, with the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 seeing recent price rises. Asked if this trend could also drive up the price of GTA 6 upon its release, Take-Two wasn't concerned, choosing to look at these queries in a different light.
The company feels that GTA VI will drive console sales, meaning that fans will shell out money to buy whatever generation of consoles is required to play the new title at its highest potential. However, Zelnick feels that the price increases will have some influence, but it will be positive, as consumers remain highly interested in interactive entertainment, especially from consoles.
No exodus of Rockstar Games staff
Strauss Zelnick also disclosed that Take-Two Interactive is not expecting Rockstar staff to quit their roles once GTA VI releases. With the upcoming title facing a prolonged development period, there have been rumors of its employees looking ahead to some time off, but the company isn't worried.
Zelnick noted that there's a very low attrition rate at Rockstar Games and at Take-Two Interactive, so there are no turnover worries. He added that there's a lot of work to do after the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, so the chances of employees leaving are low, as they will continue to work on ensuring the game is a massive success.
Rockstar's plans to avoid leaks
Behind the scenes, there is significant speculation about how Rockstar will handle the review process to prevent pre-launch spoilers. Rumors suggest that Rockstar may restrict review access, possibly inviting critics to a secure, "on-site" location to prevent game builds from leaking.
The company might also tighten embargoes. As a result, media houses can expect strict embargoes that may lift only shortly before the November 19 launch to protect the game's massive marketing reveal.
Grand Theft Auto 6 was in active production for over six years before a final confirmation of its release date was made recently. According to Take-Two Interactive's May earnings report, GTA 6 is officially scheduled to launch on current-generation consoles on November 19, 2026.
Header image via Rockstar Games