GTA Publisher Never Thought Story Games Were Dead, Unlike Competitors

Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two Interactive, contends that despite what other publishers once thought, his company never believed in the supposed death of single-player games. The likes of Electronic Arts spent a good chunk of the eighth console generation pontificating on the viability of story-driven, single-player titles. Interestingly, it was Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’s unexpected success that seemed to change EA’s perspective, since it managed to shift approximately eight million units after a mere two months of availability.

EA’s apparent disinterest in exclusively narrative-driven adventures appeared most obvious in its output and internal decision-making. Dead Space morphed from single-player survival horror to co-op and microtransactions, then quickly took to the sidelines. Not too long thereafter, several Star Wars titles were axed, including the Amy Hennig-helmed Project Ragtag at Dead Space developer Visceral. Activision seemed to believe single-player games were a thing of the past as well, given that some of its most creative teams, such as Singularity’s Raven Software and Deadpool’s High Moon Studios, joined the Call of Duty development team machine. A similar fate later befell THPS remake studio Vicarious Visions, which assumed the role of Blizzard support just months after shipping the fastest-selling Tony Hawk-branded game to date. The publisher behind Grand Theft Auto evidently watched it all take shape in silence.

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick recently acknowledged the supposed death of single-player games in a financial earnings call relayed by Seeking Alpha (via MP1st). According to Zelnick, despite the fact that a couple of its competitors once dismissed the viability of story-driven titles, the Grand Theft Auto publisher “never took that position.” The company firmly believes these types of experiences hold a significant place on the market and will continue to do so “going forward,” the CEO added. He, specifically, called attention to Rockstar Games’ storytelling prowess, then praised the studio’s ability to achieve incredible success with GTA Online.

Of course, GTA Online isn’t Take-Two Interactive’s only multiplayer-based moneymaker. The publisher also relies on constant revenue streams from subsidiary 2K Games’ annualized NBA 2K brand. But the eventual return of franchises such as BioShock suggests Take-Two and its partners still hold Player 1, as Bethesda Softworks once termed it, in high regard. Not to mention, Grand Theft Auto 6 has entered active development, according to official word from Rockstar Games. Single-player games will more than likely stick around for the long haul.

Another tease from Strauss Zelnick indicates beloved, story-driven IP like L.A. Noire and Max Payne could make a comeback, as well. During the same financial report, Zelnick told investors that Take-Two’s pipeline of future releases included sequels to classic franchises. Reportedly, the CEO then showcased a slideshow featuring imagery from the two aforementioned titles and Midnight Club. It would seem, then, that Grand Theft Auto may not be the only Rockstar IP looking to make a splash in the coming years.

Source: Seeking Alpha (via MP1st)

About The Author

Brianna Reeves
(2097 Articles Published)

A Senior Writer on Screen Rant’s Game News team, Brianna Reeves graduated from Sam Houston Statue University in 2018 with a Master of Arts in English Literature. Brianna’s enthusiasm for games dates back to Mortal Kombat Trilogy on PlayStation 1, along with classics like MediEvil, Syphon Filter, and THPS2. However, Red Dead Redemption reinvigorated her love for the medium; hopefully, that passion reflects in the work she has contributed to Comic Book Resources, PlayStation LifeStyle, GVMERS, and Screen Rant.

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