Take-Two on GTA 6 Review Scores, PS5 Price Hike, 2K Missteps and More

Why It Matters

Take‑Two’s GTA 6 launch could catalyze a double‑digit earnings surge, while Ubisoft’s struggles highlight the volatility of franchise‑dependent pipelines.

Key Takeaways

• Take‑Two reports 19% revenue growth, driven by GTA franchise.
• Ubisoft warns of revenue decline, restructuring, and delayed releases.
• GTA 6 expected to boost Take‑Two’s FY2027 earnings by 20%.
• US game spending up 3% in April, led by Switch 2 sales.
• Upcoming Game Business Live event features Xbox, EA, and Naughty Dog leaders.

Summary

The episode opens with Take‑Two’s FY2026 results, showing a 19% rise in net revenue and bookings, largely powered by its mobile portfolio and the looming GTA 6 launch. The company projects another 20% growth for FY2027, underscoring the franchise’s outsized impact on its earnings trajectory.

In contrast, Ubisoft disclosed a 21.8% revenue drop and warned of a cash‑flow trough as it restructures and delays several titles. Meanwhile, US market data revealed a 3% YoY increase in game and hardware spend in April, with the new Switch 2 emerging as the month’s top‑selling console and Nintendo’s “Life‑Living‑the‑Dream” topping the software chart.

The discussion shifts to industry events: Game Business Live on June 8 will host Xbox’s chief strategy officer, EA’s president, and Naughty Dog co‑founder Jason Rubin. Dan Dawkins of the GTA 6:00 podcast joins to dissect Strauss Zelnick’s candid interview style and the hype surrounding GTA 6, while brief mentions cover Microsoft’s $250 million settlement and Epic’s Unreal Engine 6 reveal.

For investors and developers, the takeaway is clear: Take‑Two’s financial health hinges on GTA 6’s release, while Ubisoft’s turnaround will be gradual. The broader market remains robust, driven by console upgrades and strong franchise performance, making upcoming events critical venues for strategic positioning and partnership building.

Original Description

Today’s edition of The Game Business Show sees us dive into Grand Theft Auto 6, featuring comments from Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick and data from the ESA. We’re joined by Dan Dawkins, who is content director at media giant Future, and also runs the GTA 6 O’Clock newsletter and podcast, to chat through what we might expect from the blockbuster launch in six months.

00:00 Introduction

02:27 News round-up

08:09 Dan Dawkins

14:57 Another GTA delay?

17:31 Cultural moment

22:33 GTA reviews

27:52 GTA boost

35:35 Staff turnover

41:20 Last of the blockbusters

45:38 More Zelnick

48:43 2K Games