Rockstar Games' highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 is set for a major reveal on August 27, with an extended trailer slated for release on Netflix. However, the lead-up to this unveiling has been overshadowed by substantial leaks of alleged gameplay footage, which began earlier this week. Concurrently, Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, has experienced a notable decline in its market value, with its stock price falling from approximately $245 at the start of the week to around $236.
The leaks have generated widespread attention, becoming a topic of discussion and even lighthearted commentary from government officials. This period of volatility for Take-Two's stock price is occurring alongside other financial developments. The company's top executive, Strauss Zelnick, recently sold shares worth $10 million. Furthermore, Take-Two's latest earnings report indicated a loss exceeding $30 million over the past three months, accompanied by a decrease in net bookings.
Additional financial news for Take-Two includes a recent disclosure that the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan acquired nearly 150,000 shares, valued at over $37 million. The company's stock performance throughout the year has been varied; as of today, it is down more than 6% year-to-date. Looking at a longer timeframe, Take-Two stock has seen a 3.3% increase over the past year. For those who have held shares long-term, the returns have been considerable, with Take-Two stock appreciating by approximately 50% in the last five years. For perspective, when Grand Theft Auto 5 was released in 2013, Take-Two's stock price was around $18; it now trades above $235.
This is not the first time Grand Theft Auto 6 has been subject to leaks. A similar incident occurred in September 2022. At that time, Zelnick described the situation as "really frustrating and upsetting," but noted that the leaks had no discernible financial impact on the company. Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled for release on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. While there were reports of Rockstar Games testing the title for the Nintendo Switch 2, fans should temper expectations regarding a release on that platform.