Take-Two Boss Is Worried Trump’s Tariffs Might Affect Console Sales, Thinks Games Are Still Safe

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick had a lot to say about the company’s future, but he stayed tight-lipped on some details. In a recent interview, he discussed a series of interesting topics, some which are related to games and consoles, others to politics.

When asked about Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs and how they might affect the gaming industry, Zelnick didn’t seem too worried about physical game discs but acknowledged that console sales could take a hit.

‘As an economist, I’m not a big fan of trade wars,’ he said. He admitted that tariffs can make sense in certain situations but prefers free trade. He also noted that the current pause in tariffs affecting Mexico and Canada is a good sign.

In a major shakeup, Michael Condrey, the founder of Take-Two’s 31st Union studio, has left the company. However, he will still advise on the studio’s upcoming project, Project Ethos. Zelnick praised Condrey for his contributions, saying he built a strong team and a promising game. Take-Two’s transition team will now handle the rest of the development.

On the mobile gaming side, Take-Two is seeing growth in direct-to-consumer sales, but it’s not expecting that to dominate its business. ‘It’s going to be a bigger part of our mobile platform, but we’re still happy to work with retail partners,’ Zelnick said.

Meanwhile, Zynga’s numbers aren’t as strong as expected, but mobile gaming is still growing. ‘We haven’t had the same industry tailwinds as before, but the good news is that it’s back to growth,’ he explained. Take-Two’s Match Factory has been a big success, alongside Toon Blast and Toy Blast.

Take-Two has a lot on its plate, but Zelnick seems confident in the company’s direction. The real question is whether everything will stay on schedule.

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