Zelnick says rising console prices won't hurt GTA 6, but admits it's 'good for no one'

Caught this GamesRadar piece where Strauss Zelnick got asked about the PS5 and Xbox price hikes that keep popping up. You know the ones, feels like every year there's a new SKU that costs more. He didn't sugarcoat it, said rising console costs are "good for no one." But then he pivoted hard, basically saying Take-Two isn't losing sleep over it with GTA 6 on the way.

His quote: "I don't think it will slow us down any because... we're delivering experiences that people want."

I get the logic. GTA 6 is the kind of game that moves consoles. People will upgrade, trade in, do whatever to play it. But it still feels a little off when the game itself is $80 and the hardware keeps creeping up. We're already seeing PS5 Pro bundles and Xbox Series X refreshes that aren't exactly cheap. And that's before you factor in the digital-only push, no disc drive on some models, so you're locked into storefront pricing.

Zelnick's probably right that it won't dent their bottom line. Pre-orders have been nuts since June. But for the rest of us, it's another reminder that gaming is getting expensive fast. I'm just wondering how many people are waiting until the last minute to grab a console, hoping for a holiday bundle or something. Are you holding off on a new console until closer to November 19, or is the hype too real to wait?

Source: GamesRadar+ · Curated content.

Zelnick's read aligns with the numbers. The PS5 and Series X install base is already massive.

I don't think it will slow us down any

Pre-orders opened June 25. Standard edition $79.99, Ultimate $99.99. Those figures are doing the talking. The hardware side's messier though. Holiday 2026 will bring refreshed SKUs, disc-less models, and storefront lock-in. Anyone hunting a console now is paying premium prices for less flexibility. I'm tracking bundle announcements anyway. Curious if Rockstar ties any console-specific marketing to the August 27 extended look. 3pm ET on Netflix, 9pm ET on YouTube.

ok so — zelnick saying it's "good for no one" is basically corporate for "we're fine but ouch" and he's not wrong. the install base is already huge like stat_soup said and gta 6 is the system seller anyway! i'm more curious if the august 27 extended look drops any bundle hints because that timing is right before holiday shopping starts. people will pay whatever, they always do.

Back in 2004 you grabbed San Andreas for fifty bucks, popped it in your PS2, and that was that. No storefront lock-in, no wondering if your console even has a disc drive. The whole thing feels overcomplicated now.

good for no one

Zelnick drops that line and then shrugs it off because he knows we're all gonna pay anyway. And yeah, the install base is huge, pre-orders have been wild since June. But an eighty dollar standard edition plus a disc-less SKU that locks you into full digital pricing? That's a rough combo. Makes me miss when buying a game didn't require a spreadsheet. I'm waiting until closer to November to see if any real bundles show up. Let the holiday chaos shake out first.