Take-Two is reportedly set to close Roll7 and Intercept and sell off Private Division

Earlier this month, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick claimed that the company "didn't shutter" its indie teams at Intercept Games and Roll7. This statement was made in response to reports suggesting that Take-Two was planning to shut down both Kerbal Space Program 2 developer Intercept Games and Roll7, the studio behind Rollerdrome and OlliOlli World. These reported shutdowns were said to be part of cost-cutting measures that Take-Two revealed plans for via an SEC filing in April. However, Zelnick's recent statement has cast doubt on the actual status of these studios, leaving the situation unclear.

Take-Two's decision to potentially shut down Roll7 and Intercept Games and sell off Private Division seems to be driven by a combination of factors. According to insider sources, the company has been facing unreasonable sales targets and pressure to release games before they were ready. This was reportedly causing issues with the development and release of games, such as the notable example of Kerbal Space Program 2.

Furthermore, it appears that Take-Two has been looking to streamline its operations and focus on its core franchises, such as Grand Theft Auto and Borderlands. Selling off Private Division, which handles smaller independent games, would align with this strategy.

Additionally, the decision to shut down Roll7 and Intercept Games could be related to Take-Two's recent announcement of a cost reduction plan, which included project cancellations and layoffs of 5% of its workforce. This suggests that the company is looking to cut costs and focus its resources on its most profitable ventures.

However, it's important to note that these reasons are based on reports and insider sources, and the exact motivations behind Take-Two's decisions are not publicly known.