AI cannot create a game of the magnitude of Rockstar Games’ upcoming open-world action-adventure game, GTA VI, according to Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick.
During an interview with The Game Business’ Christopher Dring (via IdleSloth84_ on Twitter/X), Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick offered his perspective on the role of AI in game development, pushing back strongly against the idea that the technology could create a blockbuster on the scale of GTA VI. His statement comes amid growing industry interest in generative AI tools, such as Google’s Project Genie, which can produce small, playable GTA-like experiences from prompts. While some investors reacted nervously to such developments, Zelnick sees AI as an opportunity rather than a threat.
“This company was built on the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence,” Zelnick said, highlighting that game development has always been tied to evolving technology. He added that Take-Two is already actively exploring the space, noting, “We have hundreds of AI pilots and implementations going on right now across our company.” However, he drew a clear distinction between using AI as a tool and relying on it to create meaningful entertainment. According to him, the idea that AI could independently produce a hit game of the magnitude of GTA VI misunderstands what makes successful titles resonate. “These tools may help you create assets, but that won’t help you create hits,” he explained. “There are loads of assets out there now, and thousands of mobile games are launched every year and there are a handful of hits.”
The Take-Two CEO addressed comparisons to major franchises, stating that while AI may generate something that superficially resembles a high-end production, the reality is far more complex. “Sure, you can create assets that might look like a big release, but creating a hit of that magnitude is a completely different animal and does require human engagement, does require human creativity.” He further dismissed the notion that AI tools would allow an individual to push a button and generate a hit, calling it “laughable.”
Instead, Zelnick framed AI as a productivity enhancer, useful for speeding up workflows, assisting with ideation, and improving efficiency, but not as a replacement for human talent. “Our mission is to create the best entertainment on Earth,” he noted, adding that technology can support that mission, “but technology on its own will not replace the fulfillment of that mission.”
