The gaming industry is bracing for a major shake-up. With Electronic Arts (EA) set to go private in a $55 billion deal backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and U.S. partners, attention has turned to what this means for other major players. One of them is Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games the studio behind the hotly anticipated GTA 6.
Speaking during Take-Two’s most recent earnings call, CEO Strauss Zelnick addressed the development. Asked whether EA’s transition to private ownership could alter the competitive landscape, Zelnick offered a measured response: “I’m not sure how the market shakes out if EA goes private,” he said. “We’re always running scared around here. Arrogance is the enemy of continued success.”
Take-Two’s Cautious Confidence
Zelnick explained that Take-Two’s strength lies not in market dominance but in creative output. “We’re performing much better than expected economically because we’re performing better creatively and that’s always been our story,” he said. The CEO added that Take-Two remains financially healthy, calling the company “very under-leveraged” and in “a terrific position.”
He later elaborated in an interview with The Game Business, acknowledging that EA’s shift might slightly change the competitive landscape. “It may give us a bit of room from a competitive point of view,” he said. “But a good business benefits from having several powerful players not just one. Either way, our job remains the same: to make the best entertainment on earth.”
Industry Impact and Ongoing Projects
If completed, the EA sale would leave Take-Two as the last publicly traded publisher of its scale in the U.S. gaming sector. Yet Zelnick appeared unfazed by the potential consolidation. “We wish our competitors well,” he noted, suggesting that healthy competition drives quality and innovation across the industry.
Meanwhile, Take-Two’s biggest talking point remains Grand Theft Auto VI. During the same briefing, the company confirmed that the game has been delayed once again now scheduled for November 2026. Originally due in Fall 2025, the project has faced two postponements as Rockstar seeks to ensure “the level of polish fans expect and deserve.”
The publisher has also faced internal controversy after reports that Rockstar dismissed several employees for “gross misconduct” linked to alleged leaks. A labor union has disputed that explanation, claiming the firings were tied to unionization efforts.
Looking Ahead
For Take-Two, the coming year is defined by both anticipation and scrutiny. With GTA 6 now pushed further into 2026 and its main competitor undergoing a historic transformation, Zelnick’s remarks make one thing clear success will depend less on market shifts and more on creative consistency. As he put it, “If we can maintain that, we have a wonderful future ahead of us.”