Take-Two CEO Warns Rising PS5 and Xbox Prices Could Be Problematic, Yet Believes GTA 6 Will Remain Unaffected

Grand Theft Auto 6 is generating massive excitement, not just among fans but across the entire gaming industry. Many analysts believe it could revitalize a console market that has seen better days. Gamers who have been hesitant to upgrade from older systems will find themselves needing a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S to dive into this highly anticipated title, marking the first major release in over ten years. However, what caught many off guard was the surge in console prices driven by an AI arms race. Despite this, the CEO of Take-Two remains unfazed.

“The increasing cost of hardware isn’t ideal, and we won’t claim otherwise,” Strauss Zelnick shared with investors during the company’s recent earnings call. He added:

“I don’t think it will hinder us because we believe we’re providing experiences that people desire. A lower hardware price would certainly help by putting more consoles in players’ hands. While I can’t say this is a positive development, we don’t view it as a significant obstacle either.”

In a conversation with an outlet, Zelnick expressed optimism, stating he would prefer if the prices of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S didn’t rise “for obvious reasons.” However, he doubts that the current RAM shortage will impact console availability when GTA 6 launches on November 19.

“We expect the install base at launch to align with our initial projections,” Zelnick noted. “The only thing that would raise my concern—though not worry—would be if we believed that number would be lower than anticipated. But that’s not the situation.”

Sony, which has a major marketing partnership with Rockstar Games for the GTA 6 launch, has assured investors that it has sufficient RAM to meet the expected demand for PS5 consoles through early 2027. As long as the entry-level console price remains under $700, gamers are likely to do whatever it takes to get their hands on this new open-world experience, making it one of the most affordable ways to play a new GTA title in decades.