According to GameSpot, Electronic Arts is facing a potential $55 billion acquisition by a Saudi Arabian-led investor consortium including PIF, Affinity Partners, and Silver Lake, though the deal won’t close until 2026. Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed uncertainty about how EA going private might affect competition, noting his company would become the last major publicly traded American game publisher. During Take-Two’s earnings call, Zelnick revealed that Grand Theft Auto 6 has been delayed yet again, moving from its May 2026 release date to November 2026. Rockstar apologized for the extended wait but claimed the extra months would ensure proper polish. Meanwhile, Rockstar faces controversy after firing dozens of employees for what it calls “gross misconduct” related to leaking secrets, though a labor union claims the real reason was unionization efforts.
Zelnick’s cautious optimism
Strauss Zelnick’s comments during the earnings call reveal a CEO who’s determined not to get overconfident. He literally said they’re “always running scared around here,” which is actually pretty refreshing honesty from a gaming executive. The whole “arrogance is the enemy of continued success” line sounds like something he’s been repeating for years, but it’s probably good advice in an industry where one failed mega-title can tank a company.
Here’s the thing though – Zelnick’s playing it cool, but you have to wonder if he’s secretly thrilled about EA potentially going private. Being the last major publicly traded game publisher in the U.S. could give Take-Two some breathing room from quarterly earnings pressure. But he’s smart enough not to say that out loud. Instead, he gives this diplomatic line about how “a good business is well served by having powerful players, not just one powerful player.” Basically, he’s covering all his bases.
The GTA 6 delay reality
Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room – another GTA 6 delay. This thing was originally supposed to hit in Fall 2025, then got pushed to May 2026, and now we’re looking at November 2026. That’s a full year of additional development time from the original target. Rockstar’s statement about needing extra polish sounds reasonable on the surface, but come on – how much polish does a game need when you’ve had over a decade since GTA V?
I’m starting to wonder if there’s more going on behind the scenes. The development cycle for this thing is approaching Cyberpunk 2077 territory, and we all remember how that launch went. The pressure on Rockstar to deliver something that not only meets but exceeds GTA V’s monumental success must be absolutely crushing. Another delay might be better than another disastrous launch, but at some point, fans are going to lose patience.
Rockstar’s labor issues
Then there’s the employee termination controversy. Rockstar claims they fired people for “gross misconduct” related to leaking secrets, while the labor union says it’s actually about union-busting. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about difficult working conditions at Rockstar, remember the whole “crunch culture” exposé from a few years back?
So which is it? Are employees really leaking company secrets, or is this corporate retaliation against union organizers? The timing is certainly suspicious – right as the company is pushing through another major delay on their flagship title. Either way, it suggests there’s some serious internal tension happening at Rockstar right when they need stable, focused development the most.
The bigger picture
Looking at all this together, you’ve got to wonder about the state of the gaming industry. EA potentially going private to Saudi investors, Take-Two becoming the last major public player, Rockstar dealing with delays and labor disputes – it feels like we’re at an inflection point. Zelnick’s comment about being “very under-leveraged” is particularly interesting. Is he hinting that Take-Two might go on a shopping spree if the right acquisition targets appear?
And let’s not forget the Saudi money flowing into gaming. $55 billion for EA is an absolutely massive bet on the industry’s future. But what does it mean when so much gaming power consolidates under non-traditional ownership? We’re entering uncharted territory here, and Zelnick’s cautious “we’re always running scared” approach might be the smartest play of all.
