Take-Two CEO Explains Why GTA VI Is Taking Over a Decade

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick said Monday that the more-than‑10‑year gap between Grand Theft Auto V and the next installment is a deliberate move to build anticipation and allow sufficient time for game development.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Zelnick explained that Take-Two “rests” its intellectual property between major releases. He noted that while sports titles from the publisher appear on an annual schedule, non‑sports titles follow a cycle that includes a pause to generate demand.

Zelnick added that the creation of a Grand Theft Auto title requires extensive development time. He said Rockstar Games maintains a rigorous process for design and testing, and production schedules reflect that process.

He pointed to Grand Theft Auto V’s performance across three console generations as evidence of the strategy’s effectiveness. He said the game continues to serve as an industry benchmark for sales and player engagement.

Zelnick said the approach creates scarcity and excitement, and that fan interest in GTA VI grows during the wait. He said the industry is shifting from rapid release models to longer development cycles for AAA titles.

Rockstar Games and Take‑Two Interactive have not announced a release date for GTA VI.