“Fortnite” has taken the gaming industry by storm since its release in 2017. The game featured a battle royale game mode that captivated everyone to a point that it is now widely considered to be the most popular game in the world.

The game, however, has affected the gaming industry in more ways than one, specifically its free-to-play model. Ever since its release, more and more companies have started to follow the free-to-play, battle royale business model made popular by “Fortnite.” However, fans of the “Grand Theft Auto” (“GTA”) franchise don’t have to worry about the game following those trends.

Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of Take-Two Interactive, which is the parent company of Rockstar Games, recently shared some details about their upcoming release. The games in the “GTA” franchise were developed by Rockstar Games, and with the latest installment coming up, the CEO's words have revealed quite a bit regarding the future of “GTA 6.”

Zelnick has been clear about his feelings regarding the free-to-play model. Zelnick likens the free-to-play business model to gambling as the hit ratios for these type of games are incredibly low. Strauss remains a skeptic of the business model and chooses only to believe in it selectively.

During a presentation at Baird’s 2019 Global Consumer, Technology, & Services Conference held on June 5, Zelnick reiterated his hesitance to fully embrace the free-to-play model. When asked if the surge of free-to-play game titles would affect the pricing of paid title, such as the upcoming "GTA 6," Zelnick responded that it wouldn’t and that they are “different animals.” Zelnick chooses to believe that any game, free-to-play or otherwise, becoming successful does not impact other games being successful. He applies this thinking to Rockstar Games' upcoming release.

While “GTA 6” is not expected to be featured on the Xbox One and PS4, it is expected to be a massive seller on the next-gen consoles. Zelnick believes that the free-to-play model of “Fortnite” won’t affect the sales of “GTA 6” as they both cater to very different audiences. This makes sense as “Fortnite” is famous for its battle royale game mode, while “GTA” is famous for being story-rich and violent. Both games have their own unique perks that attracted their respective fanbase and Zelnick may feel that adopting a free-to-play business model ruins "GTA's" uniqueness.

While there have been plenty of companies ready to adopt the free-to-play model, fans of the “GTA” franchise should be rest assured that the CEO of Take-Two won’t let that happen.

GTA V
GTA V came out in 2013 and it was well-received by fans everywhere. The newest installment in the series, GTA VI, is set to come out anytime soon however details are still scarce. strelkin / Flickr
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