Take-Two Shuts Down Buyout Rumors Amid Netflix & GTA 6 Partnership

Take-Two Interactive is not looking to sell, not to Netflix, and not to anyone else. Despite a deepening partnership between the powerhouse video game publisher and the streaming giant, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has firmly shut down any speculation that a corporate buyout is on the horizon. According to Zelnick, the house that built Grand Theft Auto is incredibly proud of its independence and has absolutely no plans to hand over the reins.

The rumors recently reached a boiling point ahead of a massive, first-of-its-kind promotional tie-up between Rockstar Games and Netflix. During a recent interview with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin, Zelnick was asked what this growing relationship meant for Netflix's ongoing gaming strategy. Zelnick praised the streamer, noting that they have hired some talented, experienced interactive entertainment executives. 

He explained that Take-Two has already made a bunch of deals with them, successfully distributing many titles on the Netflix platform to help the streamer add entertainment value. Zelnick added that it isn't any secret that Netflix's goal is to retain as many subscribers as possible by delivering the best entertainment, so it stands to reason they would make their way into the gaming business.

However, before Zelnick could finish his thought, Sorkin interrupted to address the elephant in the room. Does Netflix need to buy a giant like Take-Two to make real progress in the video game space? Zelnick deflected the business strategy question to Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters, but pointed out that historically, Netflix has not made big acquisitions. Instead, they have grown organically and done a great job at it. As for his own company's future, Zelnick made his stance absolutely clear. “As far as us, I don’t know. I think we’re very proud of the way we built this company independently. We’re now the largest pure play that’s public in the space worldwide.”

Financial Dominance and a $47B Market Cap

The publisher's financial data heavily supports Zelnick's unwavering confidence. Take-Two is currently the largest publicly traded pure-play video game company in the world. Zelnick proudly shared that they expect to generate over $8 billion in revenue this fiscal year, alongside consistent, year-over-year profits. He grounded this massive success by admitting that it isn't easy or even predictable, and that they have to get up every morning and put the work in to make it happen, as per VGC.

Current market data indicate this dominant position, as Take-Two’s shares have recently traded near $250 USD, giving the company a monumental market capitalization close to $47 billion (at the time of writing). This cements it as one of the biggest standalone publishers globally, a notable feat as major rivals like Activision Blizzard and Electronic Arts have been taken private through acquisitions by Microsoft and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, respectively. Summing up his thoughts on a potential buyout, Zelnick simply stated that if anyone deserves to be an independent company, they do.

For now, the partnership remains strictly collaborative, and fans are reaping the benefits. The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look broadcast will premiere exclusively on Netflix on August 27 at 12 pm PT, which translates to 3 pm ET, 8 pm BST and 12:30 am IST (August 28). For those without a Netflix subscription, the broadcast will launch on the official Rockstar Games YouTube channel and the GTA 6 website six hours later, going live at 6 pm PT, 9 pm ET, 2 am BST and 6:30 am IST (August 28). As Take-Two gears up for the historic launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 on November 19, 2026, the company intends to retain full control over its roadmap, proudly and fiercely independent.