Take-Two Boss: GTA IV 'Vastly Better' Than Expectations News

Take-Two Interactive chief, Strauss Zelnick, has spoken at the Reuters Media Summit and revealed that Grand Theft Auto IV has benefited from the push to a Spring 2008 launch, believing it to be 'vastly better' than gamers already expect it to be.

He also explained that the publisher's future now laid in the development of original IP such as BioShock, rather than acquiring licensing such as Marvel's Ghost Rider.

Asserting that Take-Two is now in a state of growth following the completion of the new Board of Directors' restructuring earlier in the year, Zelnick commented to the news organisation that: "I'm much more interested in growing the business than in selling it, to be clear...I imagine we will try to find greater efficiencies but they probably won't be through headcount. I imagine headcount will grow. This is a growth business. We are in growth mode." The statement comes as a response to speculation that Zelnick was preparing to sell the publisher to the likes of Electronic Arts.

A specific release date for GTA IV is yet to be revealed, but it is expected to be launched before the end of Take-Two's second fiscal quarter in April.