Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, says he hasn’t played Grand Theft Auto 6—not because of secrecy, but because he’s “not a gamer.”
In a new interview with CNBC, Zelnick said, “I don’t play video games. I’m not the consumer-in-chief.” Instead, he sees his role as supporting the talent behind the games without interfering.
“My job is to attract, retain, and motivate the best talent in the business—and then get out of their way,” he explained. While he shares feedback with developers at studios like Rockstar and 2K Games, he believes making creative decisions without being a true player would be a mistake.
Zelnick compared his approach to his time in the movie and music industries, saying he didn’t have to be the main audience to be an effective leader. He believes executives shouldn’t micromanage games if they don’t truly understand the medium.
Despite not playing GTA 6 himself, Zelnick praised the game and Rockstar’s vision, saying the studio is “trying to create the best thing anyone’s ever seen in entertainment.” He also expressed strong confidence in Rockstar’s ability to meet the May 2026 release date, calling further delays unlikely.
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