Take-Two Boss Predicts Actual Good Video Game Streaming Within 3 Years, Says for Streaming to Matter It Would Have to Run GTA 6 as Well as Consoles
The boss of Take-Two has suggested the video game industry will be in “commercial streaming mode” within three years — but for video game streaming to matter, it will have to run GTA 6 just as well as consoles do.
Take-Two's CEO Strauss Zelnick has predicted that the video game industry will enter "commercial streaming mode" within three years, but emphasized that for streaming to be truly impactful, it must be able to run GTA 6 as smoothly as consoles. Addressing the challenges posed by soaring chip costs, which have led to console price hikes and potential delays for PlayStation 6 and Project Helix, Zelnick acknowledged that cheaper hardware is not ideal for software companies.
However, he believes that video game streaming is the solution to this issue, as it has the potential to transform even non-gaming devices into gaming machines. Zelnick confidently stated his belief that "low latency" streaming will be available within the next three years, which he believes will expand the effective installed base significantly.
He also suggested that streaming could unlock opportunities for games like GTA 6 beyond the core markets. When asked if streaming would be able to deliver GTA 6 with the same fidelity and responsiveness as consoles within that timeframe, Zelnick answered affirmatively, though he acknowledged it could be wrong, as the technology is not yet available.
Both Sony and Microsoft are expected to rely on streaming as they navigate the RAMPocalypse, the RAM crisis that has affected the gaming industry. Microsoft recently launched a test for ad-supported Xbox game streaming, allowing players to stream games using their existing devices. This move comes amid the console price increases that have pushed some gaming hardware to prices nearing $1,000.
Microsoft attributes these price hikes to the ongoing components crisis, with storage and memory prices increasing by more than 2.5 times, with another doubling expected by fall 2027. This has led to new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma suggesting that radically different business models will be necessary for the upcoming generation.
Written by urgent.news from IGN's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.