Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick on GTA 6 Budget, Delays, and a Dig at Cyberpunk 2077

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has opened up about the massive budget and long development of Grand Theft Auto 6, telling The Wall Street Journal that the game was 'expensive and it took a long time.' While he wouldn't confirm the rumored $1.5 billion cost, Zelnick emphasized that Rockstar's pursuit of excellence justifies the investment, adding, 'If we get it right, it actually pays for itself and then some.' He also addressed the game's delay to November 2026, calling it 'expensive and inconvenient' but necessary to uphold the company's culture of quality over deadlines. Zelnick contrasted this with a recent 'very high-profile release' that shipped in a rough state and had to be pulled—an apparent reference to CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077, which was removed from the PlayStation Store after a disastrous launch. The CEO stressed that arrogance is the enemy of continued success and that he will wait to see how GTA 6 is received. As the industry watches, Rockstar's bet on perfection could redefine blockbuster game development.