According to Eurogamer.net, Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick revealed that GTA 5 has now sold over 220 million units worldwide, which actually exceeds Brazil’s entire population of 213 million people. The company’s GTA+ subscription service is growing at a staggering 20% year-over-year rate, and GTA Online continues delivering “terrific results” with regular content updates. This massive ongoing revenue stream comes as GTA 6 faces another delay, now pushed to November 2026. Take Two’s stock price immediately took a hit following the delay announcement. Meanwhile, protests erupted outside Rockstar’s UK offices after the sudden firing of staff involved in unionization efforts, with the company claiming confidential information was shared.
The shareholder dilemma
Here’s the thing about that stock price drop – it’s basically short-term panic meeting long-term reality. Sure, investors hate delays, especially for what’s probably the most anticipated game in history. But let’s be real: when your current product is literally outselling the population of the 7th largest country on Earth, how desperate are you really? GTA 5 isn’t just selling – it’s growing through subscriptions and online content. That’s the holy grail of modern gaming: recurring revenue from a product that’s over a decade old. The delay stings, but the financial foundation is practically indestructible.
Behind the scenes turmoil
Now let’s talk about those office protests. While shareholders worry about timelines, developers are dealing with much more immediate concerns. The unionization fight and subsequent firings at Rockstar’s UK offices reveal the human cost of these massive game productions. Rockstar claims confidential information was shared, but timing is everything, isn’t it? Right when the company announces another delay that will inevitably mean crunch for the team? It creates this uncomfortable situation where the public sees billion-dollar numbers while developers fight for basic workplace protections. The contrast between the financial success and the labor tensions is pretty stark.
The unstoppable GTA machine
Think about this for a second: GTA 5 launched when Barack Obama was in his second term. The iPhone 5S was Apple’s latest model. We were all watching Breaking Bad’s final season. And yet here we are, twelve years later, and this game is still adding subscribers and selling copies. It’s completely unprecedented in entertainment history. Most games are lucky to have a two-year shelf life. GTA 5 has basically become its own economy. So while everyone’s understandably excited for GTA 6, the current installment isn’t just keeping the lights on – it’s funding what’s likely the most expensive game development in history. Basically, Take Two can afford to be patient because their backup plan is the most successful entertainment product ever created.
