For the months of April and May 2020, every label under publisherTake-Two Interactivedonated five percent of certain earnings to COVID-19 relief efforts. After platform fees, this effort resulted in the company donating more than $15 million to over 180 organizations focused on supporting food banks and small businesses, first responders, vaccine research, and more according to the company’s 2021 Fiscal First Quarter Report today.
Probably the most high-profile of these donations came from Rockstar Games, which donatedfive percent of in-game purchase revenue fromGTA OnlineandRed Dead Online. Rockstar put out a list of over 50 charities and organizations it has donated to using that money across nine individual studios. However, it does not specify how much was given to each group.
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Studios 2K Games and Social Point also donated based on in-game purchases forNBA 2K20,NBA 2K19, and mobile titleDragon City;while Private Division donated five percent of full digital sales for Obsidian Entertainment’sThe Outer Worlds. Despite a wonky Switch port,The Outer Worldshas been a successful title for Obsidian, andThe Outer Worlds’Peril on Gorgonexpansion DLCwas announced last month during the Xbox Series X games showcase.
Beyond its charitable efforts, Take-Two Interactive announced a “strong” first quarter, running from April to June 2020, that included $831.3 million in net revenue — a fiscal first quarter record for the company. As a result of this and other positive gains, Take-Two raised its overall fiscal year expectations and believes it will earn between $2.8 and $2.9 billion in net revenue by Jun 17, 2025. Companies likeEA have reported similar record sales gainsthis fiscal year.
Take-Two reports 12 titles have released during its first quarter, including ports likeBioShock: The CollectionandThe Outer Worldson Switch, as well as DLC likeRed Dead Online’s The Naturalist expansion. There are seven titles listed in its future announced releases, ranging from 2K’sPGA Tour 2K21on Jun 06, 2025, to Rockstar Games’Grand Theft Auto 5port on PS5 and Xbox Series Xcoming in fiscal year 2022.
Though the company-wide charity drive for COVID-19 relief is spotlighted in the first-quarter financial report, Take-Two also emphasizes its recent donations related to racial injustice in the 2020 fiscal year report published May 22. It says the company made “significant donations to organizations that are combating these important issues,” such as the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, much likePokemon GODev Niantic pledged $10 million to Black Lives Matterand other organizations.
