Take-Two’s leader, Strauss Zelnick, thinks it’s super important to keep making new games, not just sequels, because nothing stays popular forever.
“We’re different than a lot of other big companies. It’s tempting for a big company to rest on its laurels,” he mentioned during Take-Two’s recent earnings call.
They’ve got some big hits like GTA and Red Dead, which they call “permanent” franchises, meaning they’ll keep making more of those games.
But Zelnick also warns that without new ideas, the company might start to fall apart. He explained that even though making sequels is less risky, everything eventually loses its charm.
“The truth is there is this thing called decay and entropy, and it’s a feature of physics and human life and everything that exists on earth. And so ultimately, everything does decay, including hit titles. So if we’re not trying new things and making new intellectual property, we’re… to say that we’re resting on our laurels really understates it. We’re really running the risk of burning the furniture to heat the house, and that doesn’t end well.”
People always like to see fresh ideas, even if they don’t always work out.
Take-Two tried new stuff with games like Battleborn and Evolve, but they didn’t catch on. However, on mobile, they’ve had some wins with games like Match Factory and Toon Blast.
Zelnick admits that trying new things is risky and might cost them some money, but he believes it’s crucial for long-term success.
They’re also working on new games like Project Ethos, which had a test run this year. Zelnick is really proud of how the team at 31st Union has done with it, and they’re excited about the feedback.
Another new game, Judas, is in the works from Ken Levine, the creator of BioShock.
And let’s not forget, the big one on the horizon is Grand Theft Auto VI, set to release in Fall 2025, along with Borderlands 4 coming from Gearbox earlier that year.
