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It’s not just GTA 6 – Take-Two boss argues “we have the best collection” of IP in the business
Take-Two Interactive chief executive Strauss Zelnick says the company has the strongest collection of owned intellectual property in the video game business, arguing its success is not dependent on Grand Theft Auto alone. The claim highlights the breadth of Take-Two’s portfolio as it prepares for the expected launch of GTA 6.
Zelnick said 15 of the company’s franchises have each sold at least five million units in a single release. He cited Red Dead Redemption, which he said has sold more than 65 million units, alongside Grand Theft Auto Online, NBA 2K, Borderlands, BioShock, WWE 2K and Civilization; its mobile titles include Words with Friends and Empires & Puzzles. The article notes that rivals such as Nintendo also have major franchises, making Zelnick’s ranking a matter of opinion.
In short
- Take-Two says its strength extends beyond GTA.
- Zelnick cited 15 franchises with major sales.
- Red Dead Redemption has sold over 65 million units.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Take-Two’s case is that its portfolio spans many durable franchises across genres and platforms, reducing its reliance on any one release. Zelnick’s figures, including more than 65 million sales for Red Dead Redemption and 15 franchises with a release selling at least five million copies, support the view that the company has unusual breadth and commercial reach.
The case against
The claim depends on how “best collection” is defined, and sales figures alone do not establish that one publisher’s portfolio is strongest. Rivals such as Nintendo also own highly successful, enduring franchises, so a reasonable comparison could favour another company based on its reach, consistency or cultural influence.
Explained simply
Take-Two Interactive is a video game company that owns studios and publishes games. Its best-known series include Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, as well as sports games such as NBA 2K and strategy titles such as Civilization.
A game series, or franchise, can include several releases and related products. Take-Two also publishes games for mobile phones, including Words with Friends. Other major companies, such as Nintendo, own well-known franchises too, so claims about which company has the strongest portfolio depend on how that strength is judged.
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