Take-Two CEO’s Rules Before GTA 6

What did Zelnick say?

On 29 October 2026 Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick spoke at Business Insider’s The Long Play event in New York, three weeks before GTA 6 launches on 19 November.

• “I have 13,000 colleagues,” and all of them can tell you the mission: make “the best entertainment on earth”.
• His method: “establish a mission, establish a strategy, and promulgate collective culture”.

Pay, Slack and no chief of staff

• Zelnick says “discretionary compensation programs are toxic” because they create “politics”. Take-Two pay is formula-based: when you and the company perform, you get paid.
• He has no chief of staff: “If you’re not president of the United States, you have no reason to have a chief of staff.”
• He is on Slack 24/7 and shares his mobile number with staff, but says he will not override managers.

Why it matters for GTA 6

Business Insider notes GTA 6 is central to Take-Two’s forecast of at least $8 billion in net bookings for fiscal 2027, and the game was delayed twice to meet Rockstar’s standards. See our Take-Two earnings page and GTA 6 hype tracker. Rockstar’s UK staff are also holding a union vote during launch.

Sources

• Business Insider via Yahoo Finance UK: Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick’s management style

Labels: Official = Rockstar or the company itself, Reported = previews or press, Unconfirmed = not stated by Rockstar.

What to read next

• Take-Two earnings and GTA 6
• Rockstar union vote
• GTA 6 price