In a major announcement for gamers worldwide, Rockstar Game's highly anticipated "Grand Theft Auto 6" is set to arrive in Fall 2025. The news came during Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar's parent company, when they reported their fiscal year 2024 earnings on Thursday.
While the financial report revealed a loss of $2.9 billion for the quarter ending March 31st, 2024, the "GTA VI" release window overshadowed the financial details. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick remained tight-lipped on a specific release date within the fall timeframe, stating they would "leave it there for now" and let Rockstar take the lead on further marketing announcements.
The excitement surrounding "Grand Theft Auto 6" is undeniable. The December 2023 release of the game's trailer shattered viewership records on YouTube, a testament to the immense demand for the title after a long wait following "GTA V"'s release over a decade ago.
Take-Two also addressed recent industry-wide layoffs, assuring employees that no further cuts are anticipated. Zelnick emphasized the company's focus on becoming "the most creative, most efficient, and the most innovative company in the entertainment business."
The acquisition of Gearbox, developer of popular franchises like "Borderlands" and "Tiny Tina's Wonderland," is expected to be finalized "relatively soon" under Take-Two's publishing label 2K. Additionally, Zelnick projected sequential topline growth for the company in the coming fiscal years (2025, 2026, and 2027).
Financially, Take-Two fell short of analyst expectations for the quarter. They reported a loss per share of $17.02, compared to the anticipated earnings per share of 9 cents. Net bookings, however, reached $1.35 billion. Titles like "NBA 2K24," "Grand Theft Auto V" and "Online," mobile games, and other established franchises like "Red Dead Redemption" contributed significantly to these bookings.
When asked about GTA 6 release he said,"We know a lot of fans are excited about the Grand Theft Auto 6 release window. While we can't state an exact release date yet, we're aiming for a fall 2024 release."
Looking ahead, Take-Two projects net bookings between $5.55 billion and $5.65 billion for fiscal year 2025, with a projected net loss between $674 million and $606 million. Notably, "Grand Theft Auto 6" is not expected to impact the company's fiscal 2025 revenue, with its release falling within the next fiscal year (2026).
For the current fiscal quarter (April 1 - June 30, 2024), Take-Two forecasts net bookings of $1.2 billion to $1.25 billion and a net loss between $272 million and $245 million.
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