AI Can’t Make GTA 6: Take-Two CEO Speaks Out

AI Can’t Replace Creativity: Why GTA 6 Is Still 100% Human-Made

As artificial intelligence continues to shake up industries worldwide, the gaming sector finds itself at the centre of a growing debate. Can AI actually create blockbuster games—or is that still firmly a human domain?

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has made his position crystal clear: the idea that AI could independently produce a hit game like Grand Theft Auto 6 is, in his words, “laughable.”

AI Tools vs. True Game Creation

Zelnick isn’t dismissing AI entirely—but he draws a sharp line between assistance and authorship.

What AI can do:

Speed up asset creation (textures, environments, animations)
Assist with coding and testing workflows
Improve efficiency in large-scale production

What AI cannot do:

Build emotionally engaging worlds
Create culturally impactful stories
Deliver blockbuster-level creativity and polish

According to Zelnick, the misconception is that better tools automatically lead to better outcomes. In reality, hit games still require vision, direction, and deep creative collaboration.

“Tools may help you create assets, but they won’t help you create hits.”

Why GTA 6 Is Still “Handcrafted”

Despite rapid advances in generative AI, Rockstar Games has taken a traditional approach with GTA 6—and that’s intentional.

Rockstar’s development philosophy:

Every environment is built manually, “street by street”
Narrative and character development remain human-driven
World-building focuses on detail, realism, and immersion

This handcrafted approach is part of what makes Rockstar titles stand out. It’s also why expectations for GTA 6—expected later this year—are so high.