Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed on Monday that "Grand Theft Auto VI" presales are "running far in excess of our expectations." The title launches November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S and X devices. Standard editions cost $79.99, while the ultimate version costs $99.99. Zelnick told Variety that the company will "certainly be giving more information about how ‘GTA 6’ performs post-launch," despite rumors floating around regarding exact pre-order results. He added that Rockstar has yet to confirm those specific figures.
Financial performance and platform plans
The strong presale numbers align with disclosures made after pre-orders began in June, when levels reached "unprecedented" heights. Take-Two reported game revenue of $1.38 billion for the July-September quarter, with ad sales reaching $121 million. However, "NBA 2K" sales were softer than anticipated. Wall Street forecast a loss per share of 86 cents on $1.66 billion in revenue, according to LSEG analyst consensus data. The company actually reported a loss per share of 29 cents and net bookings of $1.6 billion. This resulted in a total quarterly loss of $54 million. Zelnick declined to comment on SAG-AFTRA’s statement supporting Rockstar workers’ unionization efforts during the interview.
Future releases and market outlook
Zelnick stated that "information always comes from our labels" regarding potential PC or Nintendo Switch 2 ports. He left those future announcements to Rockstar Games. The CEO emphasized that they never claim success before it occurs. With only days remaining until launch, the team is preparing to see the fruits of their labor. The current financial picture shows mixed results outside of the upcoming blockbuster. Ad revenue contributed $121 million to the bottom line. The $54 million loss stands in contrast to the high revenue figures. Players should wait for official updates on physical disc releases. No other platforms have been confirmed by leadership. The focus remains entirely on the November 19 debut.
