The buzz around Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 continues to spark interest not only in gameplay details but also in the business strategies shaping its release. Publisher Take-Two Interactive has once again addressed its stance on subscription platforms such as Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, offering clarity on why its biggest franchises rarely make their way to these services—especially at launch.
Take-Two Pushes Back on the “Limited Support” Label
During its Q1 FY2026 earnings call in August 2025 (Fool.com transcript), Take-Two Interactive executives acknowledged the perception that the company is reluctant to embrace subscription services. However, President Karl Slatoff pushed back on that characterization, insisting that the publisher does engage with these platforms—just not frequently.
“We do put our titles occasionally into some of the subscription services… we wouldn’t do it unless it was a good economic deal,” Slatoff told analysts, as highlighted by GameSpot
This perspective underscores Take-Two’s cautious, case-by-case approach rather than outright opposition.
No Change on Day-One Launches
Despite some flexibility, Take-Two’s position on day-one releases hasn’t budged. Since the early 2020s, the publisher has been consistent in stating that offering blockbuster titles like GTA or NBA 2K on subscription platforms from launch simply doesn’t make financial sense. Instead, the company prioritizes traditional sales models before considering subscription exposure later in a game’s lifecycle.
NBA 2K on PS Plus: Engagement Without Direct Impact
The earnings call also touched on the performance of NBA 2K, one of Take-Two’s flagship franchises. While some entries have appeared on PlayStation Plus, Slatoff clarified that the game’s success has little to do with the service.
Although NBA 2K saw “exceptional growth” according to analyst Clay Griffin, Slatoff said PS Plus played no “meaningful” role in driving those results. He did, however, acknowledge that subscription services can “obviously drive engagement,” which indirectly contributes to player spending and community growth.
The Bigger Picture: Balancing Opportunity and Economics
Take-Two’s nuanced stance places it somewhere between smaller publishers—who often rely on subscription deals to boost exposure—and platform holders who run their own services. By experimenting with its own GTA+ membership program while selectively engaging with third-party catalogs, Take-Two signals that it’s open to opportunities but unwilling to compromise its premium pricing model.
For GTA 6, this means players should not expect the game on Game Pass or PS Plus at launch, though it might find its way to subscription services much later, under the right conditions.
Take-Two Interactive’s updated comments make one thing clear: while the publisher doesn’t reject subscription platforms, it treats them as strategic tools rather than default distribution channels. With GTA 6 on the horizon, the company is doubling down on full-price sales first, ensuring that any move to services like Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus will only happen if the economics align.