Take-Two CEO says GTA 6 isn't coming to PC day one because console players are the 'core consumer' — but the real reason is obvious

A Ps5 Pro and DualSense controller against a blurred background showing GTA 6 characters lounging on the sofa
(Image credit: Rockstar)

  • Take-Two Interactive boss Strauss Zelnick says Grand Theft Auto 6 won't come to PC day one, as console is Rockstar Games' focus
  • Zelnick says Rockstar wants to sservethe 'core consumer' on consoles
  • A PC launch at a later date may encourage consumers to buy the game again

Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto 6 is fast approaching, slated to launch on November 19, 2026, and one platform has been completely ruled out on day one.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick effectively confirmed that GTA 6 won't be coming to PC at launch, with Rockstar prioritizing consoles. This debunks some rumors that suggested Rockstar may have been preparing for a surprise release on PC sooner than most expected.

Rockstar leaving PC as an afterthought shouldn't come as a huge surprise, as this is the trend it has been following for years. Past games including GTA 4, GTA 5, and Red Dead Redemption 2 all came to PC after a console launch.

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When asked why GTA 6 won't be launching on PC immediately, Zelnick said: "Rockstar always starts on console because I think with regard to a release like that you're judged by serving the core," reinforcing the idea of console players being the main audience.

Lucia Caminos in GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

"Like really serving the core consumer. If your core consumer isn't there, if they're not served first and best, you kind of don't hit your other consumers."

There's no doubt that consoles are easier for Rockstar Games to optimize for. However, I suspect that's only half of the reason why GTA 6 won't launch on PC on day one.

The other half is that Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games are fully aware that there are more sales on the table if they can push consumers to double-dip and buy the game again once a PC version launches.

It's a smart business move, but it's also frustrating for us PC players. Hopefully, the wait won't be too long.


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Isaiah Williams
Staff Writer, Computing

Isaiah is a Staff Writer for the Computing channel at TechRadar. He's spent over two years writing about all things tech, specifically games on PC, consoles, and handhelds. He started off at GameRant in 2022 after graduating from Birmingham City University in the same year, before writing at PC Guide which included work on deals articles, reviews, and news on PC products such as GPUs, CPUs, monitors, and more. He spends most of his time finding out about the exciting new features of upcoming GPUs, and is passionate about new game releases on PC, hoping that the ports aren't a complete mess.

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