“Our decisions are rational”: Don’t Expect GTA 6 to Follow Call of Duty on Xbox Game Pass as Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick Hits Out
While Call of Duty may be a great addition to Xbox Game Pass, Zelnick's assertion that GTA 6 may not benefit from being on the service does have its merits.
Xbox Game Pass has been the center of attention a lot lately on account of a series of decisions by Microsoft with regards to making the service more appealing to a wider player base. While revisions to the subscription service’s pricing and features on offer for its various tiers may not have gone down well with the community, Microsoft has placed its hopes on Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 releasing on the service to turn things around.
However, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Rockstar Games’ parent company Take Two Interactive, may not take a similar direction for GTA 6, set to release late next year.
Turbulent Times for Xbox Game Pass
It’s an interesting time for Xbox Game Pass, to say the least. With its new pricing plans and revisions to its offerings drawing the ire of the FTC alongside a slew of issues with the addition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare to its roster of games, Microsoft has been under a lot of pressure to fix what players and critics see as a decline in quality for the service.
Zelnick’s assertion that GTA 6 will not be a day-one addition to Xbox Game Pass does indeed seem logical when viewed through the lens of these events. However, there is more to Take Two’s decision and apparent disdain for Xbox Game Pass than meets the eye.
A Long-Term Vision for GTA 6
While Zelnick’s statements could be construed as an attack on Xbox Game Pass at face value, that may not be the case at all. His interview with GamesIndustry shows a more nuanced side to Take Two’s decision not to add GTA 6 to Microsoft’s service when it launches.
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An especially significant detail that must be considered is his assertion that while Microsoft would certainly benefit from having Black Ops 6 available to Game Pass subscribers on launch will certainly yield dividends, that may not work as well for GTA 6 considering that neither Take Two nor Rockstar Games have a vested interest in Game Pass’ success.
Reactions to Zelnick’s statements online show that the CEO does have the support of GTA fans even as Xbox loyalists remain disappointed with his stance.
Another player seems to think that Zelnick may have inadvertently put Take Two on Microsoft’s list of potential acquisitions, thereby subverting his assertions that having GTA 6 on Game Pass brings no value to Take Two.
Another response from a Game Pass user showcases how Microsoft’s plans for the service may not be the best way to bring it back into the good graces of the gaming community.
Zelnick’s aversion to bringing big releases to Xbox Game Pass certainly does have its merits, and Microsoft would do well to consider how the service could add value to studios like Rockstar Games if it wants highly anticipated titles like GTA 6 on Xbox Game Pass in the future.
