Rumor has it that game developer Rockstar Games is planning to make its popular racing video game, "Grand Theft Auto 6," follow the tremendous success of "World of Warcraft." However, the said plan of the company has sparked backlash from players and critics.
Later, it was learned that it's actually the game's publisher Take Two Interactive and not Rockstar Games who said that it is considering "GTA 6" to become the next "World of Warcraft," a report from Master Herald said on Monday.
"While it did not explain its description, reports have it that developer Rockstar Games intends to strengthen the multiplayer mode of 'GTA 6' because co-op gameplay and modding have been the gaming trend as of late and have also become part of consumer habits. It is also possible that Take Two Interactive may be hinting of the possibility that 'GTA 6' may offer subscription too or it could be alluding that it wants the franchise to be as durable as World of Warcraft," the report said.
For his part, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick, in an Examiner report, has explained that the company is open to the idea of having a game model similar to the "World of Warcraft."
"We need to be there for the consumers; we need to meet their interest and exceed their expectations. World of Warcraft shows that there are certain titles with a persistent world that can generate interest, engagement and, therefore, revenue for long periods of time. But that's a very different model to ours. We aren't blessed by having that IP here, and we are still operating based on building very significant, exciting high-quality releases and then continuing to engage with them after their launch," Zelnick said.
"I wouldn't rule out a change in that business model over time. It has changed materially in the last five years. We have to be where the consumer is. But right now, it seems like making new iterations of existing IP and creating new hit franchises will continue to be our model for some time to come," he continued.