Red Dead Redemption is "A Permanent Franchise" Says Take-Two's Zelnick

Red Dead Redemption is "A Permanent Franchise" Says Take-Two's Zelnick

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Richard Walker

The case for Red Dead Redemption 2 looks a whole lot more realistic, following recent comments from Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick. If the first game selling 13 million copies wasn't enough to warrant a sequel, then Zelnick stating that "it seems quite obvious that Red Dead is a permanent franchise."

The comments come from Zelnick's speech earlier this week during the Cowen and Company analyst conference, in which the CEO states that Red Dead is permanent in the same way that Grand Theft Auto and Borderlands are permanent franchises. He also talked about the company's approach to releasing games selectively, rather than flooding the market with sequels.

"The risk of just [releasing more games] is that you end up just bulking up your release schedule and that isn't really what consumers want. Consumers want better, not more," Zelnick said. "So our selective approach, which we've taken since '07 I think has paid off. Now, we have gotten more by taking that approach; we've launched one new successful franchise every year and I would like to keep doing that particularly because I talk about permanent franchises, but not everything is going to be a permanent franchise. Some of our great franchises eventually will lose their luster and some will hopefully be permanent," Zelnick stated.

"I pretty much know the ones that I can assure you are permanent. It's obvious that GTA is a permanent franchise as long as we keep delivering this incredible quality; it seems quite obvious that Red Dead is a permanent franchise, again with the same caveat, or Borderlands, for example, and NBA and others," Zelnick continued. "But not everything is going to be a permanent franchise. We can do very well even if it's not. I would like to see us grow with a couple more great franchises in the next couple years and we're launching Evolve; we have very high hopes for that."

Asked about BioShock and its future, Zelnick talked about BioShock 2 developer 2K Marin and its new role as custodian of the series following Irrational Games' closure.

"We haven't given any colour on how you should think about it yet except we do believe it's beloved; we think it's important [and] certainly something that we're focused on; something 2K Marin will be responsible for shepherding going forward. I don't want to say much else except to agree with you. I think there's a lot of upside in that franchise," Zelnick said.

Here's hoping that we hear more on Red Dead Redemption 2 and a new BioShock soon.

[Via GameSpot]

Comments
47
  • PLEASE!!!!
  • I would LOVE to see a next gen RED DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Red Dead Redemption is... Well, what is it? The wait is killing me!
  • Oh sweet Jesus yes, Red Dead is one of my absolute favorite games on Xbox 360. It's been awhile... but i'm absolutely ready for more, please give more.
  • New Bioshock would be AWESOME as well!!!
  • Red Dead Redemption is the sequel, so you should say Red Dead 3, and not Red Dead Redmption 2.
  • Whilst I really enjoyed Red Dead Redemption, I would love to see a sequel to L.A. Noire.
  • @6 It could still be red dead redemption 2, kind of like modern warfare 2 wasn't the second call of duty game just the second of that series
  • Ehh... If they actually make a better world this time, with more to do in it, instead of the barren wasteland that was RDR I might be interested. There was just too much empty space in RDR, and it made the game lifeless and dull IMO.
  • Yeah I want to see RDR 2 and BioShock 4. :)
  • Wishlist for the One: New Red Dead, a new Bioshock, Borderlands 3 and I also would love a new installment of XCOM. And Mafia III, because why not. Pleeeeeeease.
  • Im up for that, assume it will be like GTA series and feature western setting again but brand new story and cast of characters. Multiplayer on that game was an guilty pleasure of mine
  • @8 Zelnick himself doesn't say "Red Dead Redemption 2", he says "Red Dead Franchise". And the Redemption story has ended, there's not really anything to do with with those characters anymore.
  • Red Dead Resurrection.
  • What about Bully 2.
  • Red Dead Revolution. Just watch.
  • I really hope this is a game we see at E3.
  • I preferred red dead over gta, I wasted so many more hours in red dead redemption than I ever did with the gta's. It just oozed character and atmosphere. So more red dead is welcome
  • I have never been so hyped for a game as I was with Red Dead Redemption this game remains one of my most loved games but I don't play it anymore sadly I'm waiting for the next one.
  • @6 It would be Red Dead Redemption 2 as RDR was never planned as a sequel to Red Dead Revolver. Excited for RDR 2 tho, but I wonder if it will be a prequel, telling the story of John when he was a outlaw or if it will continue on with Jack.
  • @9 yeah it should be set in a busy metropolis instead of a desert, that would make more sense... You're an idiot "IMO"
  • @9. That is my sentiments exactly.
  • @9 Dull and Lifeless? What fucking game did you play? Riding the horse over the plains was one of the things that made the game world feel great, everything felt so close yet so far away and imo worked. The whole atmosphere in the game was great, kinda miss it now. Should get back into it I do agree that they could add in more things into the world, but its Rockstar and the day they disappoint me with one of their games really badly i will cry blood (Yes i played State Of Emergency)
  • I wasn't a big fan of RDR. It seemed a lot to be story cut-scene, start the mission, long slow haul to the mission while someone talks to you. I'm no sure, but part of me thinks if it just moved on quicker I'd have liked it a lot more. I do always want to go back to it, but in the end don't feel motivated enough to do so. I guess I was unlikely to like it too much as I also don't like GTA IV (haven't played 5). They just aren't my cup of tea. People like it, and it made money so fair play to them wanting to keep it going. I do like the ol' West theme. @ 16 - I loved Bully. I'd love it if they brought out a sequel. Oddly I suppose, given it was basically the same thing as GTA/RDR in a different setting.
  • Bring GTA V to X1 first
  • Ubisoft, EA and Activision could learn from this. Namely surrounding Assassin's Creed, Battlefield and Call of Duty. The "Consumers want better, not more" statement really captured my eye. Here's to hoping more developers follow suit.
  • Yeah its a good game. just FIX the multiplayer. I can't even play. You sit there with never ending load screens.
  • Best news i have heard all year!
  • To those saying Red Dead Redemptions world was dull or lifeless: That was the charm of it! It was the wild west, the frontier. There should not be tons of people or cities, if you want that go play GTA. Sure, maybe they could add a few more things to do in the various towns, settlements, and villages. Or maybe a few more places to explore. But I think what made Red Dead Redemption such a great game was the world. Well and all the old western movie Easter eggs. The world was so great because it was so unique and different than all the other open world games, ever. Almost all open world games take place in 1 of 4 locations: New York, LA, Miami, or Chicago. So Red Deads world being on the US/Mexico border, with various locations based on real areas along the border was unique, and that's what made it great.
  • They will probably do like GTA and have a new protaganist set in the same Old West game universe with some of the surviving minor characters returning from Redemption. Also, I like to consider RD Redemption akin to the HD Universe of GTA (GTA 4 and 5), and RD Revolver to the older GTAs (3, Vice City, San Andreas). Same franchise, different game worlds.
  • I'm not trolling and I realize I'm in the minority, but RDR bores the sh!t out of me. I had friends who raved about this game and the reviews were fantastic. I've started this game twice and can't get into it. Is there a lot to do? Sure there is. But I don't want to play poker, horseshoes, tiddlywinks or whatever, I don't want to help an old lady find her husband, and I don't care about dude's land claim or water rights. Lots to do, but none of it interests me. As an overaching narrative, the story makes no sense. An ex-badass has had his family forcably taken from him. Gonna get some revenge? Absolutely. But first, let's buy some property and play some horseshoes. It's like Rockstar dumped wild-west related stuff in blender to see what came out. There's lots of ingredients in there, but they don;t mix well. JMTC.
  • @32 That's ok i feel the exact same way about the Halo games( and get hated on especially on Xbox sites), different strokes for different folks i guess. Everyone has there own opinion and taste in games, age and other peoples influence have a lot to do with it. I for one loved Red Dead Revolver and Redemption, and am much looking forward to something new in the franchise, bring it on R*
  • RDR2 would make me go next gen.
  • @13 - Pretty much. Marston's a no go, and his son's not worth a game of his own. Plus they were well into the 20th century by then, something the game made a point of noting, saying they were relics of a dying era. A new Red Dead I'd say would have to be back in the 19th century. Railroads only. I want a bitching moustache too, like the photos you see from the civil war era. No neckbeard though.
  • Game wasn't that good so why keep it around?
  • I just hope they keep it more open world like Redemption than the Tomb Raider-ish gameplay of Revolver, although there are a lot of similarities between the two games.
  • Both games were AMAZING. So much fun to play.
  • @7 There is a project called "Whore of the Orient" in development by Team Bondi, set in 1936 Shanghai, looks to be the LA Noire sequel you're looking for.
  • I never finished Red Dead Redemption but I think I will get the Sequel.
  • As much as I want another Red Dead, I have little faith that R* can pull it off again. They didn't expect much from the game and wrote and designed it into a corner. They can't move forward in the timeline and I think they have trepidation about going back. @#32 - At no point does John Marston take revenge for the government kidnapping his family and forcing him to assassinate his former gang mates. You really should finish the game, you might be surprised.
  • I don't want a bioshock that isn't m made by irrational
  • @42 - I gathered that from a review I had read on it. I thought that's what the game's story built towards. Makes me want to play it even less, actually.
  • rdr was a great game, a sequel to this would be amazing.
  • Always good to see a sweet game get a sequel (of some type).
  • @#41 - Maybe you were riding in a circle? :/ There are plenty of places to go and things to do in that game and none of it THAT far apart. And even if you're out in the middle of nowhere, little blue dots would appear withh random encounters to spice things up. @#44 - Oh, I see. You'd rather just ignorantly shit on the game than experience it. Gotcha.
  • I wonder if they'll have heists in the next RDR installment???
  • Prepare ye thumbs, lads. Happy days are ahead.
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