Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has confirmed that generative artificial intelligence was not used in the development of Grand Theft Auto VI, addressing ongoing questions about AI adoption in major game productions.
In an interview with Gameindustry.biz,
Zelnick stated that Rockstar Games did not rely on generative AI tools while building the next installment in the Grand Theft Auto series. “Specifically with regards to GTA 6, Generative AI has zero part in what Rockstar Games is building,” he said. He described the studio’s process as fully handcrafted, with environments constructed “building by building, street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood.”
According to Zelnick, this method is central to Rockstar’s design philosophy. He said the worlds in its games are created from the ground up rather than procedurally generated, adding that this level of manual detail contributes to the studio’s long-standing reputation for large-scale, immersive open-world titles.
While ruling out generative AI for GTA 6, Zelnick made clear that Take-Two continues to invest in artificial intelligence across other areas of its business. He noted that the company has long used machine learning and AI systems in its products and operations. “Right now we have hundreds of pilots and implementations across our company and within our studios,” he said, adding that generative AI tools are already helping improve cost and time efficiency in certain workflows.
However, Zelnick also expressed skepticism about AI’s ability to create major entertainment properties independently. He indicated that while AI can support development processes, it is not positioned to replace human-led creative work at the core of large-scale franchises.
The comments come at a time when several publishers are expanding their use of generative AI. Embark Studios has used AI tools to accelerate voice production tasks for Arc Raiders. Ubisoft has explored AI-powered teammates in gameplay systems, and Electronic Arts has announced broader plans to integrate generative AI across multiple production areas.
The use of AI in game development has sparked debate among developers and performers, particularly around creative control and employment concerns. Take-Two’s approach to Grand Theft Auto VI suggests that, for its flagship title, Rockstar Games has chosen to rely on traditional development practices.
Grand Theft Auto VI remains one of the most anticipated releases in the industry, and Take-Two’s confirmation clarifies that its production has not included generative AI-generated assets or environments.
