06-20-2018, 10:58 PM
Is single-player dead? Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick ‘doesn’t buy it’
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/is-single-player-dead-take-two-ceo-strauss-zelnick-doesnt-buy-it.jpg" width="200" height="200" title="" alt="" /></div><div><p>Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has scoffed at the notion that single-player titles are dead in the water. </p>
<p><a href="https://venturebeat.com/2018/06/18/take-two-ceo-strauss-zelnick-im-charged-with-making-hard-decisions/">In a recent interview with VentureBeat</a>, the chief exec was quizzed about the state of <em>Red Dead Redemption 2</em> (Take-Two being the publisher behind Rockstar’s open-world western), and was asked what he makes of the perceived shift away from story-driven, single-player efforts. </p>
<p>His response was decidedly candid, and while Zelnick admitted there are some who believe multiplayer, free-to-play titles are the only sensible way forward, he claims they are very, very wrong. </p>
<p>“There are people [today] saying that a game won’t work if it’s not a free-to-play battle royale. People really are saying that, and not even tongue-in-cheek. I don’t buy that,” explained Zelnick. </p>
<p>“Single-player, in my opinion, is not dead, not even close. Companies that feel like they’ll just avoid the hard work of building a story and characters and go right to where the money is in multiplayer, I don’t think that’s going to work. I’d be surprised.”</p>
<p>Although Take-Two and Rockstar have experienced long-term success with <em>Grant Theft Auto Online</em>, the online multiplayer portion of <em>Grand Theft Auto V</em>, Zelnick says there’s “no evidence” to suggest people don’t want a single-player experience. </p>
<p>In fact, he agrees with the assertion that players only became so invested in<em> GTA Online</em> after buying into the single-player offering, and believes those narrative-driven, lone wolf experiences aren’t going anywhere.</p>
<p>You can hear more from the Take-Two boss by <a href="https://venturebeat.com/2018/06/18/take-two-ceo-strauss-zelnick-im-charged-with-making-hard-decisions/">checking out the full interview over on VentureBeat</a>.</p>
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<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/is-single-player-dead-take-two-ceo-strauss-zelnick-doesnt-buy-it.jpg" width="200" height="200" title="" alt="" /></div><div><p>Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has scoffed at the notion that single-player titles are dead in the water. </p>
<p><a href="https://venturebeat.com/2018/06/18/take-two-ceo-strauss-zelnick-im-charged-with-making-hard-decisions/">In a recent interview with VentureBeat</a>, the chief exec was quizzed about the state of <em>Red Dead Redemption 2</em> (Take-Two being the publisher behind Rockstar’s open-world western), and was asked what he makes of the perceived shift away from story-driven, single-player efforts. </p>
<p>His response was decidedly candid, and while Zelnick admitted there are some who believe multiplayer, free-to-play titles are the only sensible way forward, he claims they are very, very wrong. </p>
<p>“There are people [today] saying that a game won’t work if it’s not a free-to-play battle royale. People really are saying that, and not even tongue-in-cheek. I don’t buy that,” explained Zelnick. </p>
<p>“Single-player, in my opinion, is not dead, not even close. Companies that feel like they’ll just avoid the hard work of building a story and characters and go right to where the money is in multiplayer, I don’t think that’s going to work. I’d be surprised.”</p>
<p>Although Take-Two and Rockstar have experienced long-term success with <em>Grant Theft Auto Online</em>, the online multiplayer portion of <em>Grand Theft Auto V</em>, Zelnick says there’s “no evidence” to suggest people don’t want a single-player experience. </p>
<p>In fact, he agrees with the assertion that players only became so invested in<em> GTA Online</em> after buying into the single-player offering, and believes those narrative-driven, lone wolf experiences aren’t going anywhere.</p>
<p>You can hear more from the Take-Two boss by <a href="https://venturebeat.com/2018/06/18/take-two-ceo-strauss-zelnick-im-charged-with-making-hard-decisions/">checking out the full interview over on VentureBeat</a>.</p>
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