Take-Two Interactive's CEO remains confident in Grand Theft Auto 6's performance despite the Xbox Series S's limitations.
The wait between Grand Theft Auto 5 and Grand Theft Auto 6 has heightened the expectations for the sequel. With the previous installment achieving insane success and selling over 205 million copies across multiple generations of consoles, it's on the developers, Rockstar Games, to deliver another groundbreaking experience.
But, how is Rockstar supposed to make GTA 6 such a record-breaking title if it's going to be released on Xbox Series S — along with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X?
Well, as it turns out, fans have no reason to worry about GTA 6's performance on the Xbox Series S.
Microsoft's less powerful and more economically priced console hasn't enjoyed the best reputation since it came out. Things have only gotten worse over the past year as developers and industry analysts have become vocal about the difficulties that they've faced and currently facing in optimizing games to run on significantly weaker hardware.
However, if you ask Take-Two Interactive CEO, Strauss Zelnick, there's no reason to worry. In the same earnings call where Zelnick doubled down on GTA 6's release date, he addressed concerns about GTA 6's performance on the Xbox Series S and expressed his confidence in Rockstar's ability to deliver a quality title across all supported platforms, saying, "our labels are really good at supporting platforms despite different levels of tech."
Zelnick's assurances extend beyond just the Xbox Series S, as he touched on the company's broader approach to platform support. "We support the platforms where the consumers are for as long as they're there," he explained.
Interestingly, Zelnick also hinted at GTA 6's PC version. It's worth noting that a PC port of GTA 6 is currently in development, as leaked by Rockstar a few months ago. The same leak also contained information about the incoming Grand Theft Auto 5: Expanded and Enhanced PC port, which is now confirmed for sometime early next year.
With Zelnick promising investors that the next two fiscal years will bring record net bookings, would it be too far-fetched for Rockstar to release the PC port just a year after GTA 6 becomes available to play on modern consoles?
Despite their close ties with PlayStation and Sony — there are rumors that a GTA 6 PS5 Pro bundle is on the docket — Rockstar is aware it needs GTA 6 to launch on all console platforms for it to meet sales expectations. Given that the Xbox Series S has outsold the Xbox Series X pretty much everywhere, it only makes sense for Zelnick to effectively tell its consumers that GTA 6 will fully support millions of potential players at launch.
With that said, it will be interesting to see how well GTA 6 will actually run on the Xbox Series S when it's finally available to play.
Fingers crossed, the performance is good and it paves the way for GTA 6 to be available on the next Nintendo Switch.
Ray was an instant fan of the GTA universe as a kid, ever since he first heard the iconic line “Hmm...nice bike.” He has subsequently spent countless hours in GTA worlds — warring, joyriding alongside Niko Bellic, and hanging with cousin Roman.
Of all the GTA titles that have consumed Ray’s gaming life for over a decade, he insists GTA IV reigns supreme. His articles and analysis provide diehard fans a mix of nostalgia for GTA’s golden age alongside hype about what’s new and what’s next.
While Ray loves to debate franchise favorites, his passion for all things Grand Theft Auto from the early 3D era to today is unmatched. For entertaining coverage celebrating GTA’s past, present and future from a day one devotee, read Ray’s stories.
