Take-Two CEO Optimistic About Nintendo Switch 2

With the Nintendo Switch 2 launch just around the corner, the gaming industry is abuzz with discussions on pricing, tariffs, and game key cards. Amid this, one third-party publisher stands out with a positive outlook: Take-Two Interactive.

In a recent Q&A session with investors following the company's full-year earnings report, CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed "great optimism" for Nintendo's upcoming console. He highlighted that Nintendo's approach to supporting third-party publishers this time around is notably more welcoming than in the past. Zelnick shared that Take-Two Interactive plans to launch four titles on the Nintendo Switch 2, marking a significant increase in their offerings compared to previous Nintendo platform launches.

"We're launching four titles with Nintendo Switch 2, and that's I think a bigger array of releases than we've ever offered before with a new Nintendo platform. Historically, being a third party in the Nintendo business has been a bit challenging. I think Nintendo has been very forthcoming in addressing that. And we're stepping up too, because we have great optimism for the platform. In terms of what we would bring to any platform, we address it on a case-by-case basis, we obviously want to be where the consumers are. But we would not necessarily bring every title to every platform. There are also great catalog opportunities as well."

The titles Take-Two Interactive is bringing to the Nintendo Switch 2 include Civilization 7 on launch day (June 5), the NBA 2K and WWE 2K series (specific titles and release dates yet to be announced), and Borderlands 4 on September 12. These selections are not surprising, as Take-Two has a history of publishing these franchises on the original Nintendo Switch. However, Zelnick's comments suggest potential for more titles in the future, particularly from Take-Two's extensive back catalog. While GTA 6 might not be on the list, there's a possibility that GTA V could eventually find its way to the platform.

Ahead of the investor call, we had the opportunity to discuss with Zelnick about the company's performance in the recent quarter, including insights into the development timeline of GTA 6 and his thoughts on the game's delay to next year.