With the recent delay of Red Dead Redemption 2 (and subsequent release of gorgeous screenshots) into 2018 by Rockstar Games, you might think parent publisher Take-Two Interactive would be aiming most of its focus on getting that game out the door. While both Rockstar and Take-Two clearly consider Red Dead to be of high priority, an interesting remark was made in a news release regarding Take-Two's fiscal 2017 earnings, suggesting the company might have yet another massive-blockbuster trick up its sleeve.
If you hadn't already heard, Take-Two did quite well for itself this past fiscal year, increasing net revenues by 26% to $1.78 billion and net income to $.072 per diluted share. The curious comments come toward the end of the "Management Comments" section of the document, which state the following.
That said, we still expect fiscal 2018 to be a year of strong earnings and cash provided by operating activities for Take-Two, despite an unusually light release slate, driven by new releases of NBA 2K and WWE 2K, our robust catalog led by Grand Theft Auto, and innovative offerings designed to drive engagement and recurrent consumer spending. Looking ahead to fiscal 2019, we expect to deliver both record Net Sales and record net cash provided by operating activities, in excess of $2.5 billion and $700 million, respectively, led by the launches of Rockstar Games' Red Dead Redemption 2 and a highly anticipated new title from one of 2K's biggest franchises.
Did you catch it? Take-Two is bringing Red Dead 2 and "a highly anticipated new title" in 2018, and from one of "2K's biggest franchises" at that. Granted, it doesn't sound like this mystery game involves Rockstar, but it could be anything from Borderlands 3, to a BioShock revival, to mere hyperbole designed simply to keep investors at bay. Still, Take-Two is generally not in the business of overpromising and under-delivering, so excitement for this mystery game seems, to me, perfectly warranted.
Regardless, the game we do know about currently is Red Dead Redemption 2, a title now slated for a Spring 2018 release "when it's ready." Checking out the new screenshots is advisable in the meantime, and if there's anything both Rockstar and Nintendo (the two notorious game-delayers) have taught in recent times, it's that the wait for such things is usually worth it.
