Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick responded to concerns about potential piracy issues facing GTA VI. He described piracy as a "fact of life" in the entertainment industry but emphasized that the company is not indifferent; if it becomes a tangible risk, Take-Two will employ legal and technical countermeasures.
In an interview with WSJ Tech, Zelnick stated that piracy is not unique to the gaming industry. Drawing on his experience in the film and music businesses, he noted that the film industry once estimated that 10% to 20% of its content was pirated at any given time; in his view, piracy rates in the music market may have reached as high as 80% by the mid-2000s before declining significantly.
Regarding modern games, Zelnick believes that hardware requirements, massive file sizes, and the difficulty of getting pirated copies to run properly naturally deter some illegal distribution. However, these barriers do not completely stop piracy. He also stated that he remains concerned about all aspects of the video game and entertainment business.
An unofficial multiplayer platform for Grand Theft Auto V has already been shut down. Regarding GTA VI, Take-Two's current stance is to continue monitoring risks and, when necessary, address piracy issues through legal and technical measures, just like other companies.