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Note: A previous version of this article has erroneously mentioned that Zelnick was referring specifically to video game pricing at hourly rates. This has since been corrected.
With the release of Grand Theft Auto 6’s first trailer, Rockstar has been the talk of the town, creating a new record for being the most-viewed game trailer on YouTube with over 145 Million views at the time of writing. Many fans are excited to learn more details regarding the new game and are scouring through the internet to find any new information. With so much hype around the game, you might find yourself wondering if GTA 6 will really prove its worth and make strides among the gaming community as a valuable addition to the well-known franchise. Let’s take a look!
Take-Two CEO Says the Gaming Industry Offers Terrific Price-To-Value Opportunities for Consumers
During the earnings call for Take-Two Interactive’s Q2 of 2024, CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed his views on the entertainment industry as a whole. He explained how the entertainment industry determines pricing for its content. He says:
“In terms of pricing for any entertainment property, basically the algorithm is the value of the expected entertainment usage, which is to say that the per-hour value times the number of expected hours plus the terminal value that’s perceived by the customer in ownership if the title is actually owned, not, say, rented or subscribed to. And you’ll see that that bears out in every kind of entertainment vehicle. By that standard, our frontline prices are still very, very low because we offer many hours of engagement. The value of the engagement is very high. So, I think the industry, as a whole, offers a terrific price-to-value opportunity for consumers.”
Based on this theory, which is also shared by many other experts in the industry, we can see that video games generally offer numerous hours of value for their asking price when compared to other forms of entertainment. Although this does not apply to every single title, most premium titles fall under this category, and Grand Theft Auto has certainly proved itself to be one over the years.
Furthermore, Zelnick also clarifies that this does not necessarily mean the industry has or wants to have the pricing power. However, it is undeniable that there is a great amount of value on offer. He adds:
“it's our strategy here to deliver much more value than what we charge consumers. It's always been our strategy here. We want to make sure the experience is first-class, and the nature of the experience is not just the quality of what we offer, it's also what you pay for it, everyone knows that anecdotally.”
If you have been a fan of Grand Theft Auto games, you will know that they have always provided immense value to gamers, with their compelling narratives, rich storytelling, and engaging gameplay. The studio has always emphasized quality, with its open-world environments featuring meticulous attention to detail, providing an immersive experience for its players. This has been proven time and time again over the years with games in the franchise receiving numerous praises and selling millions of copies worldwide.
Judging by the game’s lengthy development time, we can be sure that Rockstar will continue to provide a quality gaming experience for its fans and Grand Theft Auto 6 will certainly be a title worthy of your time.
