With less than a month to go before the much-anticipated launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, the gaming industry is buzzing with discussions around pricing, tariffs, and game key cards. Amid this excitement, one third-party publisher, Take-Two Interactive, is expressing a strong sense of confidence in the new console. In a recent Q&A session with investors following their full-year earnings report, CEO Strauss Zelnick shared his "great optimism" for Nintendo's latest platform, highlighting a more collaborative relationship with Nintendo compared to previous consoles.
Zelnick revealed that Take-Two Interactive is set to launch four titles on the Nintendo Switch 2, marking a significant commitment to the platform. "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," he stated. This move reflects a positive shift in the dynamics between Nintendo and third-party developers, with Zelnick noting that historically, being a third party in the Nintendo ecosystem has posed challenges. However, he praised Nintendo for being more open and supportive this time around, stating, "I think Nintendo has been very forthcoming in addressing that. And we're stepping up too, because we have great optimism for the platform."
The titles Take-Two is bringing to the Nintendo Switch 2 include Civilization 7, set to launch on June 5, coinciding with the console's launch day, as well as entries from the NBA 2K and WWE 2K series, though specific titles and release dates remain undisclosed. Additionally, Borderlands 4 is slated for a September 12 release. These choices aren't surprising, as Take-Two already publishes these franchises on the original Nintendo Switch. However, Zelnick's comments suggest potential future opportunities, particularly from Take-Two's extensive back catalog. While a port of GTA 6 seems unlikely, the possibility of seeing GTA V on the platform in the future remains open.
Ahead of the investor call, we had the opportunity to speak directly with Zelnick about the company's performance over the past quarter. Our discussion also touched on the development timeline for GTA 6 and Zelnick's perspective on the game's recent delay to next year.
