Strauss Zelnick says arrogance is the enemy of success as Take-Two invests in new IP, while acknowledging that not every bet will work.
This comes on the heels of 2K unveiling a new development team, Small Axe Studios. The new studio features EA Sports veterans, and fans believe it could create a rival to the EA FC franchise.
Why Take-Two Keeps Investing in New Game Franchises
Speaking with Christopher Dring of The Game Business, Zelnick said it was important for Take-Two to invest in new IPs, but also acknowledged that it is difficult for a new competitor to enter a space when fanbases are so loyal to and invested in existing titles.
In a moment of transparency from a top industry executive, he said he truly believes arrogance can be the enemy of success, but also acknowledged that not every investment will pay off as hoped.
I’m always running scared, and again, I never claim success before it occurs, and I’m a firm believer that arrogance is the enemy of continued success. Our track record with regard to the creation of new intellectual property is not perfect, but it’s pretty good. Today we have 15 huge franchises in our PC and console business that have each sold at least five million units, and the only reason that is the case is because we were willing to invest in new intellectual property over the years. I’m cautiously optimistic that we can continue to create success. Inevitably, it will not be 100% of the time.
For now, Take-Two is all in on Grand Theft Auto 6. Previously, Take-Two has acknowledged that Grand Theft Auto threw off expected sales numbers for NBA 2K27. Learn more about that here.
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For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out Zelnick’s comments on AI. Don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter, too.
I'm Robert DeFelice. I spent years covering pro-wrestling industry for outlets such as Fightful. After years in wrestling journalism, I’ve transitioned to video games, another passion of mine.
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