Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games (GTA 6's developer), has unveiled its strategic vision for future game development. The company acknowledges its reliance on established franchises like GTA and Red Dead Redemption, but recognizes the inherent risk of over-dependence on legacy IPs.
Take-Two's Focus on New Game Development
The Limitations of Relying on Established Franchises
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, in a Q2 2025 investor call, addressed the company's approach to intellectual property (IP) management. While acknowledging the success of established franchises, Zelnick emphasized the eventual decline in their value, both commercially and to players. He pointed out that even successful sequels eventually experience a decline in impact, a phenomenon he described as "decay and entropy."
Zelnick further warned against solely relying on existing IPs, stating that such a strategy risks "burning the furniture to heat the house." He stressed the importance of developing new IPs to ensure long-term success and avoid stagnation.
Upcoming Releases: Borderlands 4 and GTA 6
Regarding future releases of established franchises, Zelnick confirmed to Variety that major releases will be strategically spaced out. While GTA 6's release window is set for Fall 2025, a specific date remains unannounced. Furthermore, he clarified that GTA 6's launch will be well-separated from Borderlands 4's release, currently planned for Spring 2025/2026 (April 1, 2025 - March 31, 2026).
A New First-Person Shooter RPG from Take-Two
Take-Two's subsidiary, Ghost Story Games, is preparing to launch a new IP: Judas, a narrative-driven, first-person shooter RPG. Expected in 2025, Judas will feature a player-driven narrative, impacting relationships and the overall storyline, according to creator Ken Levine. This highlights Take-Two's commitment to investing in fresh, original content.
