Representative Image. Credit: Rockstar Games
This new deal comes a few weeks before the scheduled launch of Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6. The deal, signed September 28 and effective September 17, replaces Take-Two’s current publisher agreements with Xbox. The agreement comes ahead of Grand Theft Auto 6, which is scheduled to launch on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The new agreement does not announce a new GTA 6 version or confirm support for future Xbox hardware.
Take-Two Interactive has signed a new long-term Xbox Publisher License Agreement with Microsoft. It does, however, establish Take-Two’s updated publishing arrangement with Microsoft for Xbox-compatible products.
The agreement gives Take-Two the right to develop, publish, manufacture, market, advertise, distribute and sell Xbox-compatible products for “all Xbox devices”. The filing doesn’t specifically mention Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox hardware, but the broader “all Xbox devices” language has led to speculation that the deal could also include future Xbox hardware. If future Xbox hardware falls within the agreement’s “all Xbox devices” definition, Take-Two would have a publisher licence framework in place to release compatible products on those devices.
For users, the deal means Take-Two has effectively secured its ability to release and sell its games across Xbox devices covered by the new agreement. The filing provides no further details.
The new agreement covers the development, publishing, manufacturing, marketing, advertising, distribution and sale of Xbox-compatible products across “all Xbox devices”, according to Take-Two’s filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.