- Primary Subject: Grand Theft Auto VI
- Key Update: Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed generative AI has “zero part” in GTA 6’s creative development.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: February 4, 2026
- Quick Answer: Take-Two says GTA 6’s world is fully handcrafted by Rockstar Games, with generative AI not used in core creative work despite broader AI experimentation elsewhere at Take-Two Interactive.
Amid growing industry debate about artificial intelligence in game development, Take-Two Interactive has drawn a very clear line when it comes to Grand Theft Auto VI.
According to CEO Strauss Zelnick, generative AI tools are not involved at all in the creation of Rockstar’s upcoming flagship title.
In earnings-related interviews and wider industry discussions, including remarks to GamesIndustry.biz, Zelnick was direct: GenAI has “zero part” in Rockstar’s GTA 6 project.
Instead of simply downplaying AI’s role, Zelnick makes it clear that GTA 6’s creative core is entirely separate from generative technology, which is a stronger stance than the usual corporate AI response.
The key point is that the game’s cities, environments, and world are being crafted directly by developers, not generated through AI systems.
He stressed that Rockstar builds its worlds deliberately, element by element, and that this hands-on process is central to what makes their games distinctive.
If Take-Two Uses AI, Why Isn’t It in GTA 6?
The conversation becomes more layered when you consider that Take-Two isn’t opposed to AI, as Zelnick has said the company is already experimenting with artificial intelligence in several areas via active test initiatives.
However, they’re described as tools for internal optimization and speed, rather than systems intended to originate stories or take over imaginative work.
Zelnick has expressed skepticism that generative AI, which relies on existing data patterns, can originate the kind of forward-thinking creativity required for major entertainment properties.
In his view, AI can assist teams, but it cannot serve as the creative engine behind something as ambitious and detail-focused as GTA 6.
This way of thinking is what keeps the game separate from generative content systems.
Why Does Take-Two Keep Saying GTA 6 Is “Handcrafted”?
Rockstar’s repeated use of the word “handcrafted” around GTA 6 supports both its creative identity and public image, underlining a development approach built on intentional design instead of automated world creation.
On the public-facing side, it reassures players who worry that generative AI could lead to generic or soulless game worlds. Focusing on human-led development helps Take-Two brand GTA 6 as a craft-first title, not a technology-first venture.
These clarifications come at a time when AI-generated game worlds and tools have been making headlines across the industry, with investors and studios exploring automation possibilities.
The overall direction of the industry fueled talk that massive open-world titles might begin using AI-assisted development.
Take-Two’s remarks essentially put that theory to rest for GTA 6, emphasizing that Rockstar’s creative foundation remains traditional, even if modern tools support other parts of development.
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