Xbox Series X and S Will Do ‘Very Well,’ Take-Two CEO Says

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick thinks Microsoft’s Xbox Series X is going to do “very well” in the coming generation.

In a new interview with Protocol (via VGC), the Take-Two exec discusses the last decade or so of Rockstar Games’ success, the industry’s evolving business models, and the future of gaming.

Though he acknowledges that the Xbox will always struggle to outsell the PlayStation in the East, he sounds confident that Microsoft is well positioned heading into this new era of game consoles.

Microsoft’s Bright Future with the Series X

“So far it looks to me as though they’re both approaching this launch very aggressively. We’ve always worked happily with both parties. We would like to see both be very successful,” Zelnick said. 

“In certain parts of the world, as you know, Sony had a preferred position last time around. I think Microsoft is working very, very hard to see that that’s not repeated. I think it will be a challenge in Asia, where Sony’s dominated.”

He added, “But if I had to guess, I think Microsoft is going to do very well.”

Sony’s Next-Gen Strategy

But Zelnick knows, too, that PlayStation is king when it comes to must-have first-party exclusives.

“I think you’re going to see that [Sony] will be very aggressive on the content side and on the marketing side,” he said.

“They are going to focus, as they always do, on aiming at an advantage on the content side. But Microsoft’s trying to do the same thing; as you know, Microsoft has bought some studios. There’s a lot of stuff that they own and control. Perhaps they’ll do more of that. They have a great balance sheet.”

A New Era

Sony’s aiming to launch the PlayStation 5 in Q4 2020.

The Xbox Series X and Series S are set to release on November 10.

Pre-orders for the next-gen Xbox are scheduled to go live September 22.