Take-Two CEO doesn’t think mid-generation console upgrades are important

Recently, rumors concerning the mid-generation upgrade of gaming consoles have been plentiful, particularly the widespread buzz surrounding Sony’s plans to launch the PS5 Pro. Prior to Take-Two’s release of its financial report for the first quarter of this fiscal year, the company’s CEO, Strauss Zelnick, commented in an interview with IGN that the significance of a mid-generation upgrade in gaming consoles is not as paramount as some might believe.

“All depends on what that mid-generation upgrade would look like. Generally speaking, the mid-generation upgrades haven’t really changed much,” he said, later repeating that such upgrades “aren’t all that meaningful.” 

From a publisher’s standpoint, Zelnick contemplates that although mid-generation upgrades imbue the console with enhanced performance, they will not alter their approach to the development and release of games.

Simultaneously, Zelnick also voiced his opinion on the rumored successor to the Nintendo Switch. Regarding this speculated device, the CEO believes that backward compatibility would be beneficial to consumers, though he remains uncertain whether this feature is indispensable. However, he would be rather astonished if the mid-generation upgraded console did not offer this capability.

It appears that Zelnick may perceive Nintendo’s new device as a type of mid-generation upgrade, but when IGN sought to ascertain his definitive view, his response was: “That remains to be seen.” Nevertheless, one certainty that emerged from the interview is that Take-Two will be an early supporter of Nintendo’s new machine.

It’s worth noting that not long ago, Take-Two’s subsidiary Rockstar brought the ported version of “Red Dead Redemption” to the Switch, suggesting that we may soon witness an influx of Take-Two games landing on Nintendo’s platforms.