Why You'll Buy GTA 5 Again on Xbox One/PS4/PC, According to Take-Two

Crypto · September 18, 2014

Karl Slatoff says a raft of visual improvements and new content will make the new versions a "very compelling" proposition.

The improvements featured in the upcoming Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC versions of Rockstar's 2013 open-world hit, Grand Theft Auto V, are so numerous and compelling that people who already bought the game for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 will have a tough time saying no to spending another $60 for an additional copy.

That's according to Take-Two Interactive president Karl Slatoff, who said during an MKM Partners Entertainment & Leisure Conference today that the upcoming Xbox One and PS4 versions of GTA V could also help sell hardware.

"Yes, we have sold in 34 million units, which is a lot of units," he said. "The obvious question is, 'Is there anyone else out there who would still buy it?' We happen to believe that there are people out there who have not bought the title yet. We think that GTA V on next-gen platforms could actually really move some hardware as well."

Slatoff went on to say that Rockstar Games is intent on "delivering on a creative vision that will compel people to go out and lay out more money than they already have at this point."

That's because GTA V for new consoles will offer "something very special," not only in the form of better graphics, but also from a content perspective, Slatoff said. Just last week, Rockstar announced that GTA V will launch November 18 for Xbox One and PS4, featuring over 100 new radio station songs, and exclusive content in the form of vehicles and weapons for people who already played the Xbox 360 or PS3 versions.

The game will also offer major visual and technical upgrades like increased draw distances and higher resolution overall. In addition, GTA V for Xbox One, PS4, and PC will include more weapons, vehicles, and activities; additional wildlife; denser traffic; a new foliage system; and better damage and weather effects.

"The world is going to feel more rich; it's going to be more vivid; it's going to be more alive," Slatoff said. "We think the value proposition will be very compelling."

Also during the talk, Slatoff addressed GTA V's multiplayer mode, Grand Theft Auto Online. In short, it's been a big success for Take-Two. "It's fair to say that GTA Online has surpassed our expectations. And it continues to do so." And about its future potential? "The sky is really the limit," Slatoff said.

GTA Online is Take-Two's new attempt to create what it calls "recurrent consumer spending." The online mode lets you spend real-world money for virtual items, which boosts the profitability of the game beyond the initial $60 purchase price. Take-Two has said previously that 70 percent of GTA V players have connected to GTA Online, but the company has not shared any official revenue figures for the multiplayer mode.

"The longevity, and our ability to generate income from GTA Online in the future, is really going to be dependent upon the content offerings that we continue to make," Slatoff said. "We have a long-term plan to continue to offer content to the consumer."

As long as consumers see the value of new GTA Online content and engage with it in a meaningful way, which they are right now, Slatoff says, then, "we really see that this is a great opportunity for us going into the future."

The PC version of GTA V was originally targeted to launch this year, but it is now expected to arrive in January 2015.

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