Read from CNBC:
“I think it’s moving towards PC and business is moving towards open rather than closed,” Zelnick told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “But if you define console as the property, not the system, then the notion of a very rich game that you engage in for many hours that you play on a big screen — that’s never going away.”
Zelnick said the current split between console and mobile is about even in the market, but mobile is growing more rapidly than consoles.
Although gaming giants like Sony’s PlayStation and Nintendo have remained focused on traditional consoles to major success, rivals like Microsoft’s Xbox have hinted at more PC-based gaming for the next generation of hardware.
“It’s kind of funny that people think about the console and PC as two different things,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently said in an interview with TBPN. “We built the console because we wanted to build a better PC, which could then perform for gaming. I kind of want to revisit some of that conventional wisdom.”
Gaming company Valve garnered significant buzz last week after announcing its new Steam Machine, a console-PC hybrid that can run PC games on a television or as a normal gaming computer.
“Expanding access across PC, console, and handheld devices reflects a future built on choice, core values that have guided Xbox’s vision from the start,” Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer wrote in an X post congratulating Valve.
Although Take-Two’s most high-profile titles, such as its “Grand Auto Theft” and “Borderlands” series, are largely played through console and PC, the company has invested heavily in its mobile segment after the mobile gaming industry rocketed during the pandemic.
In 2022, the company bought mobile developer Zynga for $12.7 billion, the largest gaming acquisition at the time.
The lofty purchase has since paid off, with Take-Two’s mobile division leading the company’s revenue during the second quarter despite the release of notable titles including “Borderlands 4,” “NBA 2K26″ and “Mafia: The Old Country.”
Mobile games from developers like Zynga, Rollic and Nordeus accounted for 46% of Take-Two’s net revenue during the quarter, while console sold slightly less at 41% and PC and other platforms contributed 13%.
“Mobile, of course, is taken with you, it’s repeatable, and it’s enjoyable,” Zelnick said Monday. “And I do think because it appeals to the broadest possible audience, it will probably continue to grow more rapidly.”
The CEO said during the earnings call that the company expected the mobile unit to increase by around 10% in the next quarter.
Although mobile gaming slowed down after seeing unprecedented highs during Covid, the market is seeing some reacceleration this year.
Global mobile game revenue is expected to generate $188.8 billion this year, increasing 3.4% from last year, according to research from Newzoo. Console and PC are projected to earn a combined $45.9 billion, or 45% of the total gaming market.
“I think it’s moving towards PC and business is moving towards open rather than closed,” Zelnick told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “But if you define console as the property, not the system, then the notion of a very rich game that you engage in for many hours that you play on a big screen — that’s never going away.”
Zelnick said the current split between console and mobile is about even in the market, but mobile is growing more rapidly than consoles.
Although gaming giants like Sony’s PlayStation and Nintendo have remained focused on traditional consoles to major success, rivals like Microsoft’s Xbox have hinted at more PC-based gaming for the next generation of hardware.
“It’s kind of funny that people think about the console and PC as two different things,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently said in an interview with TBPN. “We built the console because we wanted to build a better PC, which could then perform for gaming. I kind of want to revisit some of that conventional wisdom.”
Gaming company Valve garnered significant buzz last week after announcing its new Steam Machine, a console-PC hybrid that can run PC games on a television or as a normal gaming computer.
“Expanding access across PC, console, and handheld devices reflects a future built on choice, core values that have guided Xbox’s vision from the start,” Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer wrote in an X post congratulating Valve.
Although Take-Two’s most high-profile titles, such as its “Grand Auto Theft” and “Borderlands” series, are largely played through console and PC, the company has invested heavily in its mobile segment after the mobile gaming industry rocketed during the pandemic.
In 2022, the company bought mobile developer Zynga for $12.7 billion, the largest gaming acquisition at the time.
The lofty purchase has since paid off, with Take-Two’s mobile division leading the company’s revenue during the second quarter despite the release of notable titles including “Borderlands 4,” “NBA 2K26″ and “Mafia: The Old Country.”
Mobile games from developers like Zynga, Rollic and Nordeus accounted for 46% of Take-Two’s net revenue during the quarter, while console sold slightly less at 41% and PC and other platforms contributed 13%.
“Mobile, of course, is taken with you, it’s repeatable, and it’s enjoyable,” Zelnick said Monday. “And I do think because it appeals to the broadest possible audience, it will probably continue to grow more rapidly.”
The CEO said during the earnings call that the company expected the mobile unit to increase by around 10% in the next quarter.
Although mobile gaming slowed down after seeing unprecedented highs during Covid, the market is seeing some reacceleration this year.
Global mobile game revenue is expected to generate $188.8 billion this year, increasing 3.4% from last year, according to research from Newzoo. Console and PC are projected to earn a combined $45.9 billion, or 45% of the total gaming market.
