Take-Two - Softonic English

L.A. Noire could have a sequel, but it all depends on GTA 6

Next May, L.A. Noire will celebrate its 15th anniversary, a milestone that highlights its relevance in the history of video games for its innovative approach to criminal investigation. This title, developed by Team Bondi, managed to capture the attention of a wide audience and opened new avenues in narrative experiences. However, neither Rockstar nor Take-Two have revealed concrete plans for a sequel, leaving fans speculating about the future of this iconic intellectual property. Rockstar has many things in mind Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two, has indicated that the company has not forgotten its IP […]

Next May, L.A. Noire will celebrate its 15th anniversary, a milestone that highlights its relevance in the history of video games due to its innovative approach to criminal investigation.

This title, developed by Team Bondi, managed to capture the attention of a wide audience and opened new avenues in narrative experiences. However, neither Rockstar nor Take-Two have revealed concrete plans for a sequel, leaving fans speculating about the future of this iconic intellectual property.

Rockstar has a lot on its mind

Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two, has indicated that the company has not forgotten its classic IPs, including L.A. Noire. In statements during the recent Icon conference, Zelnick emphasized that the possibility of reviving these properties is conditioned on the existence of a team passionate about working on them.

“We are considering doing something in the future,” he commented, although he did not advance any specific announcement. This vision suggests that, ultimately, the development of L.A. Noire 2 will depend on the availability of talent committed to the franchise.

It is important to remember that the production of the original game was marked by significant challenges, including reports of crunch and a toxic work environment, which could influence the decision to move forward with a sequel. Team Bondi, for its part, has been renamed Rockstar Australia and is currently working on a project known as Sowden House, although there are no guarantees of its release.

Additionally, Zelnick briefly touched on the topic of GTA VI’s distribution plans, suggesting that the game’s price should align with the perceived value by the consumer, which is indicative of the company’s philosophy towards its future business strategy.

As the video game industry continues to evolve, the possibility of reviving L.A. Noire and other classic titles remains up in the air, depending on the confluence of talent and business opportunities.

Steam DOWNLOAD

GTA 6 will not have a trace of AI

At a time when generative artificial intelligence dominates conversations in the entertainment industry, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, has made it clear that this technology has no place in the development of GTA 6. During an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Zelnick stated that, although Take-Two has been using artificial intelligence and machine learning tools as support in the development process, these do not replace human creativity, which he considers essential for creating memorable experiences. They wanted to clarify that AI has no place in the company. Zelnick emphasized that the worlds of GTA 6 […]

They have wanted to clarify that AI has no place in the company

Zelnick emphasized that the worlds of GTA 6 are built manually, building by building, street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood, a process that, according to him, is essential to achieve the quality and depth expected by players. Despite the growing pressure on the industry to adopt AI-based tools, the CEO expressed skepticism regarding the creative capacity of these technologies, indicating that there is no evidence that they can generate great works of entertainment.

These statements come in a challenging context for Take-Two, which has seen its stock value decline, partly influenced by Google’s recent announcement about its AI-generated gaming environments tool. Despite this uncertain environment, the company plans to launch the marketing campaign for GTA 6 next summer, ahead of its anticipated release on November 19, 2026. This move aims to raise expectations and maintain player interest following previous delays.

As the industry continues to explore the possibilities offered by artificial intelligence, Zelnick reaffirms his stance that human creativity is irreplaceable, a sentiment that resonates with many in the developer and player community alike.

Steam DOWNLOAD

One of the games canceled by Microsoft this year might have been closer to completion than we imagined

Microsoft has carried out a significant cut in its workforce, laying off around 9,000 employees and closing several studios and development projects. One of the most notable was the reboot of the game Perfect Dark, which was being co-developed by The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics. This closure has generated great discontent among those involved, as many developers tried to save the project unsuccessfully, and an agreement with the publisher Take-Two sank due to differences over intellectual property rights. A game in its final stages Alix Wilton Regan, who voices the main character Joanna […]

Microsoft has carried out a significant cut in its workforce, laying off around 9,000 employees and closing several studios and development projects. One of the most notable was the reboot of the game Perfect Dark, which was being co-developed by The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics. This closure has generated great discontent among those involved, as many developers tried to save the project unsuccessfully, and an agreement with the publisher Take-Two sank due to differences over intellectual property rights.

A game in its final stages

Alix Wilton Regan, who voices the main character Joanna Dark, expressed her surprise and devastation after the project’s cancellation. “I didn’t see this coming. I felt completely blindsided when the funding was pulled,” she commented in a recent interview. The actress had been working on the video game for years and was informed of the closure at the same time as the rest of the team. “We were recording and doing motion capture during 2023 and 2024, and we had already made considerable progress in production,” Regan added.

The closure of The Initiative has had a devastating impact not only on the project but also on the developer community, which has lost the collaboration and creativity that existed in the studio. “We lost a creative ecosystem overnight, which was really hard for everyone,” said Regan, who noted that many coworkers were also left unemployed.

Despite the cancellation of Perfect Dark, the actress has continued her career by being part of two new Tomb Raider games, where she plays Lara Croft. “The fact that Perfect Dark fell apart was difficult, but I had already been recording for Lara for a year,” she concluded, emphasizing that she is still concerned about the possibility of losing her role as Lara Croft.

Steam DOWNLOAD

A former business director of Square Enix claims that players do not care about the use of AI in video games

Jacob Navok, former business director of Square Enix, has defended the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in video game development, stating that the new generations of players do not seem to care significantly about this technology. In a recent statement, Navok argued that most players “do not care” about the use of AI and cited the commercial success of Arc Raiders, a title that prominently uses AI in its production. It knows users better than the users themselves The development of Arc Raiders by Embark Studios has been the subject of comments […]

Jacob Navok, former business director of Square Enix, has defended the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in video game development, stating that the new generations of players do not seem to care significantly about this technology. In a recent statement, Navok argued that most players “do not care” about the use of AI and cited the commercial success of Arc Raiders, a title that prominently uses AI in its production.

Get to know users better than the users themselves

The development of Arc Raiders by Embark Studios has been the subject of polarized comments, especially due to its use of AI-generated voices. Despite having the resources to hire real voice actors, Embark has opted for a combination of recordings and text-to-speech technology in various aspects of its production process. This does not imply, according to its co-founders, the intention to replace actors.

However, not everyone in the industry shares Navok’s enthusiasm. Critical voices, such as John Buckley from Pocketpair, have questioned the value of generative AI in terms of creating game mechanics, suggesting that it represents a flawed approach. Despite this, companies like EA and Take-Two have expressed their interest in AI, committing to adopt it cautiously and with a balanced approach.

The debate over AI remains divisive, with a large number of developers and organizations expressing concerns about the unauthorized use of their intellectual property. Groups representing major names in the video game and anime industry, such as Studio Ghibli and Square Enix, have urged AI companies to avoid the misuse of their intellectual property.

As technology advances, the question of whether generative AI will become a staple in video game development or generate more resistance will remain a hot topic in the gaming community.

Steam DOWNLOAD

Take-Two is facing significant internal pressure due to the firing of 35 developers before the launch of GTA6

Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games, has laid off 35 developers from the studio in Edinburgh, generating intense debate about the reasons behind these measures. According to the IWGB union, the layoffs may have occurred in retaliation for employees’ efforts to organize unionically. However, Take-Two argues that the layoffs were related to misconduct and leaks of information about the anticipated GTA 6 in a “public forum.” This situation raises questions about the work culture at Rockstar, which already has a problematic history in its treatment of developers. A highly controversial layoff […]

Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games, has laid off 35 developers from the studio in Edinburgh, sparking intense debate about the reasons behind these measures. According to the IWGB union, the layoffs may have occurred in retaliation for employees’ efforts to unionize. However, Take-Two argues that the layoffs were related to misconduct and leaks of information about the anticipated GTA 6 in a “public forum.” This situation raises questions about the work culture at Rockstar, which already has a problematic history in its treatment of developers.

Some layoffs with a lot of controversy

Continuous protests have taken place outside the Rockstar headquarters in Edinburgh, where both employees and members of the IWGB are demanding the reinstatement of those who were fired. Alex Marshall, president of the IWGB, argues that the company’s response is an attempt to crush the union initiatives that have begun to gain strength. During these demonstrations, testimonies from current employees have been heard, expressing fear and insecurity in their jobs, fearing retaliation for their possible union affiliation.

The IWGB has filed a legal appeal to demand the reinstatement of the dismissed employees and has warned that it will take legal action if Rockstar does not respond appropriately. Some developers have expressed their concern about the work environment, indicating that the creative energy and unity that characterized the studio have been severely affected by fear and uncertainty.

Despite Take-Two’s efforts to dissociate the layoffs from the right to unionize, the community of developers and players maintains a growing distrust towards Rockstar’s management. With the expectation that the situation will evolve, the IWGB promises to continue legal and social pressure to ensure justice for the workers involved in this conflict.

Steam DOWNLOAD

Mafia: The Old Country has been a success for Take-Two and they point to one reason: its price

Take-Two has confirmed a six-month delay in the release of the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6), which has had a negative impact on its stock price. The news, which was announced during the company’s latest earnings call, has raised concerns about Take-Two’s financial future. According to CEO Strauss Zelnick, this delay further adjusts the company’s expectations, which is already facing pressures after the unexpected underperformance of other titles, including Borderlands 4. A game that has performed very well Despite the […]

Take-Two has confirmed a six-month delay in the release of the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6), which has negatively impacted its stock price. The news, which was announced during the company’s latest earnings call, has raised concerns about Take-Two’s financial future. According to CEO Strauss Zelnick, this delay further adjusts the company’s expectations, which is already facing pressures due to the unexpected underperformance of other titles, including Borderlands 4.

A game that has worked very well

Despite the bad news associated with the delay of GTA 6, Take-Two celebrated the success of its recent release, Mafia: The Old Country. This game, which was released in August at a price of $50, has exceeded the company’s expectations. Zelnick highlighted that the title, set in Sicily in the early 20th century, has provided players with an immersive and accessible narrative experience, suggesting a shift towards a more cinematic approach in the company’s future projects.

The success of Mafia: The Old Country has led Zelnick to consider the possibility of developing more titles along the same lines, both within the Mafia franchise and in new creative efforts. However, this optimism is countered by the tense climate at Rockstar Games, a subsidiary of Take-Two. The company is facing accusations of unfair labor practices after firing more than 30 employees, a decision that has been labeled as retaliation for participating in union activities, although Rockstar argues that the dismissals were justified due to misconduct.

With the growing external pressure and uncertainty surrounding GTA 6, Take-Two’s future may depend on how they manage both their reputation and their portfolio of emerging titles.

Steam DOWNLOAD

After firing nearly 40 employees for unionizing, Rockstar Games is trying to excuse itself by claiming they were data thieves

Recently, Rockstar Games has faced growing controversy after firing between 30 and 40 employees at its offices in the UK and Canada, in what is presumed to be an attempt to dismantle an internal union organization. The dismissed employees, according to the IWGB Game Workers Union, belonged to a private Discord chat related to union activity, and some were already union members while others were in the process of joining. An excuse that doesn’t fit The IWGB described the firings as a “flagrant and ruthless act of anti-unionism” and has announced its intention to take legal action […]

Recently, Rockstar Games has faced increasing controversy after laying off between 30 and 40 employees at its offices in the UK and Canada, in what is presumed to be an attempt to dismantle an internal union organization. The dismissed employees, according to the IWGB Game Workers Union, were part of a private Discord chat related to union activity, and some were already union members while others were in the process of joining.

An excuse that doesn’t fit

The IWGB described the layoffs as a “flagrant and ruthless act of anti-unionism” and has announced its intention to take legal action to seek the reinstatement of those affected. In response, Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar, has denied that the layoffs are related to union activities, arguing that they were due to “serious misconduct” by a “small number of individuals”. Alan Lewis, Take-Two’s communications director, emphasized that the company’s culture focuses on teamwork and kindness.

The controversy has taken a more complicated turn due to the implication that the layoffs occurred after the company became aware of the Discord group. This group was close to reaching the 10% membership threshold necessary to request legal recognition, which could suggest an underlying motivation on the part of the company to avoid unionization. According to Alex Marshall, president of the IWGB, Rockstar shows that it prioritizes union suppression over the development of its video games.

The situation has led to a call for a protest outside the offices of Rockstar North in Edinburgh, where the reinstatement of the dismissed workers will be demanded. The IWGB has emphasized that some of those dismissed relied on health plans and company-sponsored visas, which adds a layer of complexity to the situation.

Steam DOWNLOAD

After firing nearly 40 employees for unionizing, Rockstar Games is trying to excuse itself by claiming they were data thieves

Recently, Rockstar Games has faced growing controversy after firing between 30 and 40 employees at its offices in the UK and Canada, in what is presumed to be an attempt to dismantle an internal union organization. The dismissed employees, according to the IWGB Game Workers Union, were part of a private Discord chat related to union activity, and some were already union members while others were in the process of joining. An excuse that doesn’t fit The IWGB described the firings as a “flagrant and ruthless act of anti-unionism” and has announced its intention to take legal action […]

An excuse that doesn’t fit

The situation has led to a call for a protest outside the Rockstar North offices in Edinburgh, where the reinstatement of the dismissed workers will be demanded. The IWGB has emphasized that some of those dismissed relied on health plans and company-sponsored visas, which adds a layer of complexity to the situation.

Steam DOWNLOAD

The co-founder of Rockstar Games confirms why they never released their espionage game: they couldn't compare to GTA

Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games, has shared his perspective on the failed development of Agent, a spy game that was announced in 2009 as a PS3 exclusive. Although it was speculated that Agent was in development for several years at Rockstar North, the company and its publisher Take-Two ultimately abandoned the brand in 2018 without offering an official cancellation or a clear reason. Agent could not find a way to be contemplative In a recent interview with Lex Fridman, Houser addressed the challenges of creating a spy game in an open world, highlighting that the typical dynamics of […]

Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games, has shared his perspective on the failed development of Agent, a spy game that was announced in 2009 as a PS3 exclusive. Although it was speculated that Agent was in development for several years at Rockstar North, the company and its publisher Take-Two ended up abandoning the brand in 2018 without providing an official cancellation or a clear reason.

Agent could not find a way to be contemplative

In a recent interview with Lex Fridman, Houser addressed the challenges of creating a spy game in an open world, highlighting that the typical dynamics of the open world genre do not align well with the frantic narratives of espionage. According to him, “spy games require a certain urgency, where the player must be against the clock,” which contrasts with the more relaxed experience that Rockstar usually offers in its titles like Grand Theft Auto or Red Dead Redemption.

“The most memorable moments in games like GTA or Red Dead occur in the relaxed intervals between action scenes,” Houser commented. This observation raises the question of whether it is possible to combine the freedom offered by an open world with the need for urgent mission fulfillment that characterizes espionage stories. Houser referred to the Hitman series, which focuses on self-contained gameplay environments, suggesting that an interconnected open world might not be suitable for capturing the essence of espionage.

Additionally, Houser mentions that Rockstar only attempted to develop GTA London once in 26 years, arguing that the series has a strong thematic connection to America, which makes it difficult to adapt to other contexts. Despite the anticipation for a Rockstar espionage game, Houser’s statements indicate that the studio maintains a cautious approach on how it could execute such a project.

Steam DOWNLOAD

Borderlands 4 is running poorly on your computer; Gearbox knows it and is working on it

The launch of Borderlands 4 has been received with enthusiasm for its dynamic gunplay and characteristic humor. However, the gaming community has expressed its discontent due to performance and optimization issues on the Steam platform. Since its release, the game has suffered from continuous crashes and FPS drops, leading many to demand quick answers from Gearbox Software. A game that should not have been released like this In response to these criticisms, Gearbox has released its first post-launch patch focused on improving the game’s stability. Initial user impressions indicate that […]

The launch of Borderlands 4 has been met with enthusiasm for its dynamic gunplay and characteristic humor. However, the player community has expressed its discontent due to performance and optimization issues on the Steam platform. Since its release, the game has suffered from continuous crashes and FPS drops, leading many to demand quick answers from Gearbox Software.

A game that shouldn’t have been released like this

In response to these criticisms, Gearbox has released its first post-launch patch focused on improving game stability. User feedback indicates that the patch has made a difference, with a lower frequency of crashes and more consistent FPS performance across a variety of PC configurations, according to PCGamesN. However, players should keep in mind that when modifying graphics, the shader recompilation process can take up to 15 minutes, which has prompted Gearbox to provide specific guides to optimize the game on NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards.

In the realm of consoles, users have expressed their frustration over the lack of options to disable motion blur and adjust the field of view (FOV). Gearbox has mentioned that it is “exploring” the possibility of implementing a FOV slider on Xbox Series X|S and PS5, which could reassure players in the coming days.

Finally, following the controversies surrounding the change to the EULA of the Borderlands series, Gearbox has emphasized that “Take-Two does not use spyware in its games,” thus clarifying fans’ concerns regarding privacy and security on their platforms. With these adjustments and promises of future improvements, the community hopes that the experience of Borderlands 4 will align with initial expectations.

Steam DOWNLOAD