Take-Two Boss on the GTA 6 Release: Expect Mass Sick Days

Speaking late Tuesday at “iicon”, a brand new video game business event in Las Vegas set up by the ESA, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick did not hold back. In an interview conducted by Variety’s Jenny Maas, the head honcho made it crystal clear what he expects when the highly anticipated title finally drops.

“I think a lot of people will be calling in sick on November 19th,” Zelnick told the crowd.

For a community scarred by Rockstar’s historical tendency to push back release windows, his definitive phrasing is a massive green flag. Zelnick’s absolute confidence is a strong indicator that we will not be seeing another delay announced ahead of Take-Two’s upcoming quarterly and end-of-year financial reports next month. This is a sharp contrast to how he handled things before the previous delay, where he actively altered his language to avoid mentioning the original Fall 2025 timeframe.

It is not just about hitting a specific date. Zelnick hyped up the sheer scale of the project, stating his belief that Rockstar is “making the most spectacular piece of entertainment on Earth, in history”. He fully acknowledged the weight of that statement, admitting that delivering on such a massive scale is a “pretty daunting challenge”. Still, the executive remains focused, noting that if they are of service to their customers by delivering on that historic promise, the financial upside will naturally take care of itself.

Zelnick also used the Vegas stage to tackle some of the lingering community chatter. He directly addressed the widespread rumors and pricing concerns regarding a potential $100 cost for the game. While keeping the exact financials close to his chest, he promised that an “astonishing” marketing cycle is set to begin “soon”. To top it all off, the CEO even dropped a brief hint about the future of another undisclosed Rockstar franchise. You can read more about the specifics regarding the price tag and the future of other series like L.A. Noire in this IGN article.

For now, the objective is simple. Circle November 19 on your calendar and start drafting that out of office email to your boss.