Grand Theft Auto Publisher Take-Two Adds Review Bombing to List of Risks, Leads to “Loss of Players and Revenues”

While there’s a ton of risks in releasing a video game these days, it seems another factor has been added into the equation, and that’s review bombing…at least according to Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two Interactive.

Take-Two Interactive, parent company of Rockstar Games, 2K Games and more, has added “negative review campaigns” to the lists of risks that could impact their success in the company’s 2024 10K annual filing to stockholders. According to Take-Two, review bombing may “lead to loss of players and revenues, additional advertising and marketing costs, and reputation harm.”

Furthermore, obtaining and maintaining high ratings of our games on the third-party platforms on which we operate are important as they help drive players to find our games. If the ratings of any of our games decline or if we receive significant negative reviews that result in a decrease in our ratings, our games could be more difficult for players to find or recommend. In addition, we may be subject to negative review campaigns or defamation campaigns intended to harm our ratings. Any such decline may lead to loss of players and revenues, additional advertising and marketing costs, and reputation harm.

Can’t say I disagree with that sentiment. Of course, a game getting review bombed doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad game, as gamers sometimes review bomb a game as a sign of protest be it for that particular game, or the studio or publisher associated with it. Take-Two isn’t immune to being review bombed, as the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy Remastered: Definite Edition was review bombed by gamers after being released with a litany of technical issues.

Another game that recently got review bombed was Arrowhead Game Studios’ Helldivers 2, and this time, it’s not because of the game’s quality, but rather, due to Sony’s PSN account mandate.

While the chances of Grand Theft Auto 6 being review bombed is quite slim, stranger things have happened, though I honestly doubt even a review bombing could stop the GTA freight train from selling a bajillion copies worldwide when it’s released next year.

Related Reading on MP1st:

• Take-Two CEO Doesn’t Think AI Will Reduce Employment or Development Costs; Says It’s “Stupidest Thing” He’s Heard
• GTA 6 PC Version: Take-Two Boss Says Rockstar Will Make “More Announcements in Due Time,” Cites GTA as “#1 Entertainment Property of All-Time
• Take-Two CEO: We’re So Focused on Delivering More Value Than We Charge

[Source: Game File (subscription require)]

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