Take-Two CEO: 'Any Triple-A Game Needs Aftermarket Content To Be Competitive'

DLC is becoming increasingly important, according to Take-Two CEO Ben Feder, who said "any triple-A title needs aftermarket content to be competitive," and that franchises like BioShock, Borderlands, and Grand Theft Auto are an examples of that principle for success. Downloadable content can contribute to keeping games relevant longer than usual in an environment where most titles disappear from shelves within a few months. Games from Take-Two subsidiary Rockstar have often displayed resilience against that quick falloff, and Feder hopes the company's latest, Red Dead Redemption, will prove similar. "It's following an erosion curve that every game will follow," he said in an analyst conference call after the company's financial results announcement, "but we're cautiously optimistic...that this game will be attractive to consumers for a long time to come." The Grand Theft Auto series demonstrates such long-term sales potential that each individual entry becomes almost a franchise unto itself. Feder said Grand Theft Auto IV has sold 17 million units to date, and the release of its Episodes from Liberty City for PC and PlayStation 3 in the latest quarter was another financial boost for Take-Two. "Grand Theft Auto IV and its episodes will continue to have a long life in the market, as [Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas] did before them," he said. Take-Two also sees BioShock, created by Irrational Games with a recent sequel by 2K Marin as a franchise that could enjoy similar longevity. BioShock 2 has more DLC in development, and Feder made it clear that more main entries in the series are assured, whether or not 2K Marin remains the developer. "We think BioShock is still one of the most important franchises in the industry," he said. "We do intend to support it. It doesn't have to be at 2K Marin, but we do intend to support it. ...The franchise has a long life indeed."