‘GTA 6’ Publisher Pledges Switch 2 Support, But Snubs PC (Again) – Forbes
Is Grand Theft Auto VI coming to Switch 2?Take-Two Interactive, the parent publisher behind games like Grand Theft Auto VI, Borderlands 4, and Civilization VII, appears to be developing a more positive opinion about Nintendo’s family of Switch consoles. Recent comments from Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick during the company’s recent earnings even strongly suggest that GTA 6 arrive on Switch 2.As heard by Eurogamer, Zelnick was asked directly about Take-Two’s plans to release games on Switch 2. His response indicated strong support for the platform.”There was a time when Nintendo platforms are really geared at younger audiences and that was reflected in our release schedule,” he says. “And now today with Switch and potentially with Switch 2, the Switch device can support any audience. So while we have nothing specific to report, we actually would fully expect to support Switch 2.”Indeed, Nintendo has been actively trying to shake the image of it being the gaming destination for children ever since Sega and Nintendo kicked off the console wars during the 16-bit era. With Gamecube and more mature game releases like Eternal Darkness, Nintendo started the very long journey of trying to appeal to more mature audiences while still retaining its younger demographic.Nintendo’s recent sales milestone confirms it has absolutely succeeded.It’s a guarantee that the graphical demands of Grand Theft Auto 6 will force it to skip the original Switch, but will it arrive on Switch 2? Zelnick’s response stops short of actually confirming anything, and that’s a trend we will continue to see until after Nintendo airs its Switch 2 Direct on April 2. Game developers are under NDA, and Nintendo understandably wants the first opportunity to “surprise and delight” the public about its next console.However, Zelnick was also quick to point out that 2K Games’ Civilization 7 is on Switch right now. (The game’s executive producer has also dropped a tantalizing hint about the future of Civilization 7 on the Switch 2.)Up until now, Take-Two has supported the Switch on a game-by-game basis “when it made sense for the individual release,” Zelnick says. But the earlier comment of “we […] fully expect to support Switch 2” paints a positive picture for a much broader slate of releases on Switch 2.Take-Two’s 2025 schedule is stacked, including GTA 6 (which Zelnick confirmed is still on track for this Fall), Borderlands 4, and Mafia: The Old Country – all of which have undeniably mature themes.Well, folks, we now live in a world where big publishers are fawning over Switch 2 but still hesitant when it comes to PC.During the same earnings call, Zelnick was asked about a PC release for Grand Theft Auto VI. Zelnick plainly stated that “GTA 6 is a console release, and we know what the current console base looks like.”PC game sales eclipsed console game sales in 2024 by an estimated $12B. I’m sure Zelnick saw the report that in 2024, PC gaming continued to grow, reaching $30B in software sales, while all consoles combined hit $18B (this number excludes any hardware or accessory sales).Depending on the source, GTA V has sold anywhere between 35 million and 65 million copies on Steam alone.Even if you dispute any of the above sales figures, it’s baffling that Rockstar still isn’t prioritizing a PC release at this point. It’s even more baffling that Zelnick’s comments, taken as a whole, suggest more enthusiasm for an unreleased console than a burgeoning, well-established platform like PC.At any rate, there’s a long history of Take-Two – and specifically Rockstar Games – being a “console-first, PC later” publisher.Grand Theft Auto V wasn’t released on PC until 19 months after its initial console release. It took about one year for Red Dead Redemption 2 to land on PC. Other titles like GTA IV, L.A. Noire, and Bully: Scholarship Edition also had several months of console exclusivity.
The cynic in me would suggest that Take-Two likes to encourage “double-dipping.” Heck, I know I’m guilty of buying GTA V twice, how about you?Pessimism aside, it would be fantastic to see GTA 6 arrive on Switch 2 right alongside its release for Xbox Series and PlayStation 5. It would be even better to see the game land on PC day one.One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site’s Terms of Service. We’ve summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:So, how can you be a power user?Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site’s Terms of Service.
