GTA 6 publisher claps back against TV media inciting “disproven” violent video game rhetoric – “I’m not worried” 

Ever since release, the Grand Theft Auto series has been tainted by old media as a pathway to real world violence, despite studies often proving the opposite to be true. With the GTA 6 release date primed for Fall 2025, the same tired arguments are being thrown at the upcoming open world game. 

Releasing later this year for PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, with a PC version sometime in the future, Rockstar Games’ open world game is the most realistic looking entry in the almost 30-year old franchise. With this in mind, some media outlets are perpetuating the same old worry that the game’s violent nature will result in more violent actions in real life. 

GTA 6 publisher pushes back against violent video game claims

In an interview with CNBC (Paywalled), Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick was asked about the game’s violent crimes and how they will impact the real world. Speaking on the pay-walled Squawk Box segment, Zelnick explained that he’s “not worried” about the game’s violence influencing people to commit horrific acts. 

“To be clear: entertainment doesn’t create behaviour, entertainment reflects behaviour,” the CEO said. “Entertainment gives people an opportunity to release feelings, engage in feelings, entertainment tells stories. The notion [that] entertainment creating behaviour has been tested and disproved over and over again.”

Zelnick explained that people watch violent shows all the time that show far more realistic violence against real actors than video games ever have, but they’re not blamed anymore. 

“When you watch TV and movies from any time [period] they’re very realistic looking so I’m not worried about photorealistic video games,” the Take-Two executive explained. 

Every GTA game has been the subject of the exact same violent video game controversy since the original release in 1997. While it is true that the games are more photorealistic than ever before, the link between violent video games has been disproven countless times. Video game violence has been the scapegoat for tragedies such as the Columbine Massacre for decades, but they have never truly been the cause. 

For more Grand Theft Auto news, check out the new GTA Vice City fan remake that runs like a dream on Steam Deck, a reality that would make Joe Lierberman cry.