When Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick went on CNBC and declared that “the future is moving toward PC,” it didn’t sound like an offhand remark. It was a snapshot of a gaming industry on the verge of a structural reshaping. At NewsTrackerToday, we’ve been watching the slow erosion of rigid platform boundaries for years. Zelnick’s comments simply put into words a shift that is already unfolding inside the largest publishers.
According to Zelnick, consoles aren’t disappearing, but the idea of a closed ecosystem built around proprietary hardware is losing its dominance. The market is now nearly split between consoles and mobile devices, yet mobile continues to outgrow traditional hardware. From our vantage point, this reflects a deeper behavioral change: players gravitate toward devices that are always with them, reshaping both engagement patterns and revenue models. As Liam Anderson, our financial markets analyst, puts it: “Once mobile became the largest revenue source for major publishers, investors stopped thinking in terms of platforms and started thinking in terms of recurring revenue streams.”
Industry competitors reinforce this trajectory. Sony and Nintendo remain anchored in the classic console model and continue to deliver impressive results. Microsoft, however, has openly hinted that its next Xbox generation will lean further into PC integration. CEO Satya Nadella even stated that “a console is essentially a PC built for games,” challenging the long-standing dichotomy between the two categories. At NewsTrackerToday, technology analyst Sophie Leclerc notes: “The industry is drifting toward a world where the device is just an entry point. Value is generated at the ecosystem level – across cloud, PC, mobile and cross-platform services.”
Valve underscored this direction last week by unveiling a redesigned Steam Machine, a hybrid system that plays PC titles on a TV without the limitations associated with traditional consoles. Microsoft quickly praised the device, highlighting its own vision of platform fluidity. As Phil Spencer put it, “expanding access across PC, console and handhelds reflects the future.” The message is clear: the coming decade will not be defined by hardware silos but by flexible ecosystems that follow the player wherever they choose to engage.
Yet the most telling sign of this evolution comes from Take-Two’s own financials. Following its 12.7 billion dollar acquisition of Zynga in 2022, the company’s revenue structure shifted dramatically. In the latest quarter, mobile games from Zynga, Rollic and Nordeus generated 46 percent of net revenue, consoles accounted for around 41 percent, and PC plus other platforms made up the remaining 13 percent. At NewsTrackerToday we note that the business is already operating in a cross-platform reality, where mobile titles deliver scale and consistency, while blockbuster franchises like Borderlands, NBA 2K or Mafia establish brand prestige rather than serve as the primary revenue engine.
Zelnick expects mobile to grow another 10 percent next quarter, pointing to the advantage of a device that “stays with you and can be reused endlessly.” On a global scale, mobile gaming revenue is projected to reach 188.8 billion dollars this year, up 3.4 percent, while PC and console combined will generate 45.9 billion dollars – less than half the market. These proportions underscore where future priorities will lie for publishers targeting mass audiences.
Take-Two continues to invest heavily in premium console and PC titles, but the underlying business logic is shifting. Mobile ensures predictable cash flow, while large-scale releases anchor the company’s identity and maintain its standing among core gamers. At NewsTrackerToday, we see Take-Two navigating two parallel imperatives: scaling long-term monetization models and preserving the cultural weight of its flagship franchises.
Ultimately, Zelnick’s comments are not futurism – they are a reflection of a structural realignment. The console is losing its central position, replaced by a fluid ecosystem spanning PC, mobile and cloud platforms. For Take-Two, this means accelerating diversification, refining monetization and building products for players who no longer commit to a single hardware identity.
The recommendations follow naturally. The company must keep expanding its mobile portfolio while maintaining the excellence of major releases, avoiding the perception of becoming “just a mobile publisher.” Investors should monitor whether mobile growth can sustain margins amid rising user acquisition costs. And for the industry as a whole, the challenge is to rethink platform boundaries and invest in ecosystems rather than devices, preparing for a future in which “platform” is no longer a physical object but a connected environment shaped by content. At News Tracker Today, we regard these recommendations as a practical framework for companies positioning themselves for the next decade of platform convergence.
