Take-Two Discuss GTA VI Console Exclusivity and Games Development Budget

Grand Theft Auto VI, Rockstar Games

With less than 200 days to go until Grand Theft Auto VI on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on November, 19 2026, likely the biggest game in the history of gaming releases, we’re still yet to see a marketing campaign begin.

Rockstar Games have a marketing deal with PlayStation for the game though that hasn’t led to any particular exclusive marketing just yet. Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two’s CEO, Strauss Zelnick has been discussing the game’s marketing, development costs and exclusivity to console in a new article captured by Bloomberg.

In the fresh comments the Take-Two CEO spoke about why GTA VI will only be coming to console first, saying that “Rockstar always starts on console because I think with regard to a release like that you’re judged by serving the core”, the core being console players. Queried on whether the game is console first because of the PlayStation marketing deal, Zelnick said that isn’t the case as Rockstar have always been console first.

It is an eye raising move given the growth of the PC gaming market which continues to grow amidst a relatively stagnant home console player base. GTA V, which launched all the way back in 2013, is understood to have sold 225 million copies. To exceed those astronomical figures, Rockstar will almost certainly need gamers to be purchasing the game multiple times – much like they have between three home console generations for Grand Theft Auto V.

GTA VI protagonist, Lucia (Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Another takeaway from Zelnick is the games development costs and resources. Developed by thousands of people globally, Rockstar Games is known for being almost water-tight with leaks as the studio works incredibly hard on developing genre advancing games.

Take-Two and Rockstar try to afford their development teams “unlimited financial, creative human resources and they then aim to deliver perfection”. He acknowledges the spiralling costs of development that have led to the demise of highly talented global studios, particularly following pandemic years. Zelnick said “Development costs have gone up and up. And we really do aim to deliver the highest quality entertainment on Earth. And that is costly”. He concedes the expectations for the game to succeed are “terrifying“.

Whether those incredibly high development costs would lead to a higher price game is still a little vague. In case you missed it, last week Zelnick was captured discussing concerns about and inflated price for the game. In his comments he sought to assure consumers that they would “make sure that what people pay for it [GTA VI] is very reasonable”, though he stopped short of giving a specific price point.

Well, Rockstar if you do have a PlayStation marketing campaign that needs to begin. Any chance of Trailer 3?

When do you think we wil see GTA VI Trailer 3? Will the game be delayed again? Let us know in the comments below or join the friendly and active Gamer Social Club Discord to chat about all your favourite games.