Editing Take-Two Interactive (section)

=== 2008–2018: Continued growth ===
In September 2008, Take-Two established an outsourcing agreement with Ditan Distribution LLC, at the time owned by [[Cinram]], a Canadian manufacturer of optical media. Through the agreement, Take-Two offloaded all distributing duties from Jack of All Games to Ditan, while establishing the means for Jack of All Games to license and distribute third-party titles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/take-two-ditan-enter-distribution-agreement |title=Take-Two, Ditan Enter Distribution Agreement |first=Eric |last=Caoili |website=[[Gamasutra]] |access-date=July 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718234645/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/20157/TakeTwo_Ditan_Enter_Distribution_Agreement.php |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Subsequently, in December 2009, Take-Two sold Jack of All Games to [[Synnex]] for about {{USD|43 million}}, leaving the distribution market and focusing solely on development and publishing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/5431662/take-two-sells-off-jack-of-all-games-goes-all-in-on-publishing |title=Take-Two Sells Off Jack Of All Games, Goes All In On Publishing |first=Michael |last=McWhertor |date=December 21, 2009 |access-date=September 5, 2018 |website=[[Kotaku]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718234556/https://kotaku.com/5431662/take-two-sells-off-jack-of-all-games-goes-all-in-on-publishing |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2010, [[Ben Feder]] stepped down as CEO, and was replaced by Zelnick, who remains the company's chairman and CEO.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/10/take-two-chief-executive-exits-to-be-replaced-by-chairman-strauss-zelnick.html |title=Take-Two chief executive exits, to be replaced by chairman Strauss Zelnick |last=Fritz |first=Ben |date=October 29, 2010 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031100059/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/10/take-two-chief-executive-exits-to-be-replaced-by-chairman-strauss-zelnick.html |archive-date=October 31, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2013, while being dissolved, [[THQ]] sold the rights of the ''WWE'' wrestling games series to Take-Two.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/02/14/take-two-confirms-wwe-publishing-deal?abthid=511c43b22fe21f0c48000008 |title=Take-Two Confirms WWE Publishing Deal |website=[[IGN]] |last=Goldfarb |first=Andrew |date=February 14, 2013 |access-date=February 16, 2013 |quote=We can confirm that we have entered into an agreement to publish the WWE video game series that is developed by Yukes. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223063238/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/02/14/take-two-confirms-wwe-publishing-deal?abthid=511c43b22fe21f0c48000008 |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Subsequently, 2K Sports has published annual ''WWE 2K'' games as part of its lineup.

Around 2013, Take-Two began to [[share repurchase|repurchase]] about 7.5 million outstanding shares of the company (about 10%), based on the company's projections that it would remain profitable over the next several years. As part of this, the company bought back around 12 million shares owned by [[Carl Icahn]], about 11% of the total shares, for about {{USD|203 million}}. Icahn had been seen as favoring selling the company to a buyer. This subsequently led to three board members who had been recommended on the board by Icahn to resign.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/11/26/take-two-interactive-software-buys-back-icahn-stake/ |title=Take-Two Interactive Buys Back Icahn Stake |first=Rachel |last=Abrams |date=November 26, 2013 |access-date=September 5, 2018 |website=[[The New York Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906014037/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/11/26/take-two-interactive-software-buys-back-icahn-stake/ |archive-date=September 6, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The move to buy back shares was seen by analysts of the company's assurance in ''[[Grand Theft Auto V]]'', which was released in September 2013. ''Grand Theft Auto V'' has since sold nearly 100 million units by 2018, making it one of the most successful video games ever and bringing an estimated {{USD|6 billion}} to Take-Two, increasing its stock value by more than 600%.<ref name="motleyfool 2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/08/27/take-two-interactive-has-big-expectations-for-upco.aspx |title=Take-Two Interactive Has Big Expectations for Upcoming Releases |first=John |last=Ballard |date=August 27, 2018 |access-date=September 10, 2018 |website=[[The Motley Fool]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911044443/https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/08/27/take-two-interactive-has-big-expectations-for-upco.aspx |archive-date=September 11, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2013, former [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] editor-in-chief [[Bill Jemas]] announced that he had joined Take-Two to start a "graphic fiction imprint".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/12/16/bill-jemas-joins-take-two-interactive-to-start-a-graphic-fiction-imprint/ |title=Bill Jemas Joins Take Two Interactive, To Start A "Graphic Fiction Imprint" |website=[[Bleeding Cool]] |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=December 16, 2013 |access-date=January 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140120035342/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/12/16/bill-jemas-joins-take-two-interactive-to-start-a-graphic-fiction-imprint |archive-date=January 20, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The imprint, [[Double Take Comics]], was launched in October 2014,<ref name="Double Take">{{cite web |url=https://www.newsarama.com/22606-bill-jemas-new-double-take-ready-to-launch-with-zombies.html |title=BILL JEMAS' New DOUBLE TAKE Ready to Launch with Zombies |first=Chris |last=Arrant |date=October 30, 2014 |website=[[Newsarama]] |access-date=February 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212201837/https://www.newsarama.com/22606-bill-jemas-new-double-take-ready-to-launch-with-zombies.html |archive-date=February 12, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> but ultimately was not successful and was shuttered in November 2016.<ref name="combined universe">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/take-twos-comic-book-arm-to-close-xcom-civilisation-and-bioshock-combined-universe-was-almost-a-thing/ |title=Take-Two's comic book arm to close – XCom, Civilization and Bioshock combined universe was almost a thing |first=Joe |last=Donnelly |date=November 3, 2016 |magazine=[[PC Gamer]] |access-date=February 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212201741/https://www.pcgamer.com/take-twos-comic-book-arm-to-close-xcom-civilisation-and-bioshock-combined-universe-was-almost-a-thing/ |archive-date=February 12, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Leslie Benzies]], former President of Rockstar North, took [[sabbatical]] leave from Rockstar on September 1, 2014. In January 2016 it was announced that he had left the company.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/rockstar-north-boss-leslie-benzies-is-out-after-nearly-1752495562 |title=Rockstar North Boss Leslie Benzies Is Out After Nearly Two Decades |last=Klepek |first=Patrick |website=[[Kotaku]] |date=January 12, 2016 |access-date=January 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831225629/https://kotaku.com/rockstar-north-boss-leslie-benzies-is-out-after-nearly-1752495562 |archive-date=August 31, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> On April 12, 2016, Benzies started legal action against Rockstar and Take-Two claiming $150 million in unpaid royalties.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Campbell |first1=Colin |title=The great Grand Theft Auto lawsuit explained |url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/4/14/11428072/the-great-grand-theft-auto-lawsuit-explained |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=April 14, 2016 |access-date=April 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619161451/https://www.polygon.com/2016/4/14/11428072/the-great-grand-theft-auto-lawsuit-explained |archive-date=June 19, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Take-Two had invested into mobile-game developer [[Scopely]] in July 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/games/scopely-funding-55-million-1201823095/ |title=Mobile-Game Maker Scopely Raises $55 Million |first=Todd |last=Spangler |date=July 26, 2016 |access-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019004853/http://variety.com/2016/digital/games/scopely-funding-55-million-1201823095/ |archive-date=October 19, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> On February 1, 2017, the company acquired social and mobile game developer [[Social Point]] for about {{USD|250 million}} to enter into the mobile gaming industry.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/01/take-two-buys-mobile-gaming-publisher-social-point-for-up-to-276m/ |title=Take-Two moves into mobile games, buys Social Point for up to $276M – TechCrunch |first=Ingrid |last=Lunden |date=February 2017 |access-date=June 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808153410/https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/01/take-two-buys-mobile-gaming-publisher-social-point-for-up-to-276m/ |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170201005224/en/Take-Two-Interactive-Software-Acquires-Mobile-Game-Developer |title=Take-Two Interactive Software Acquires Mobile Game Developer Social Point |publisher=Take-Two Interactive |via=[[Business Wire]] |date=February 2017 |access-date=June 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630004516/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170201005224/en/Take-Two-Interactive-Software-Acquires-Mobile-Game-Developer |archive-date=June 30, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-02-01-take-two-acquires-mobile-developer-social-point-for-usd250m |title=Take-Two acquires mobile developer Social Point for $250m |first=Christopher |last=Dring |date=February 1, 2017 |access-date=September 4, 2018 |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904191949/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-02-01-take-two-acquires-mobile-developer-social-point-for-usd250m |archive-date=September 4, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In that same month, Take-Two and the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) announced a partnership to create the [[NBA 2K League]], a professional eSports league based on the ''[[NBA 2K]]'' games, and the first eSports league to be managed by a professional sports league. Teams for the League are to be partially sponsored by existing NBA teams, so that there would be eSports equivalent teams for each of the thirty professional NBA teams. The inaugural season is planned to launch in May 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/nba-take-two-to-create-professional-videogame-league-1486616461 |title=NBA, Take-Two to Create Professional Videogame League |first=Sarah |last=Needleman |date=February 9, 2017 |access-date=December 14, 2017 |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215000646/https://www.wsj.com/articles/nba-take-two-to-create-professional-videogame-league-1486616461 |archive-date=December 15, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 31, 2017, Take-Two Interactive acquired ''[[Kerbal Space Program]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170531005439/en/Take-Two-Interactive-Software-Acquires-Kerbal-Space-Program |title=Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Acquires Kerbal Space Program |publisher=Take-Two Interactive |via=[[Business Wire]] |date=May 31, 2017 |access-date=June 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603231723/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170531005439/en/Take-Two-Interactive-Software-Acquires-Kerbal-Space-Program |archive-date=June 3, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Later, Take-Two announced the formation of its [[Private Division]] publishing label on December 14, 2017. Private Division was established to fund and publish games by mid-size independent development studios, such as ''Kerbal Space Program'', and had four planned games from separate studios at its launch.<ref name="Private Division">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-12-14-with-private-division-take-two-wants-to-empower-a-new-breed-of-indie-studio |title=With Private Division, Take-Two wants to empower a new breed of indie developer |first=Matthew |last=Handrahan |date=December 14, 2017 |access-date=December 14, 2017 |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214151530/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-12-14-with-private-division-take-two-wants-to-empower-a-new-breed-of-indie-studio |archive-date=December 14, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/12/14/take-two-announces-new-publishing-label-private-division.aspx |title=The Inside Story Of Take-Two's New Publishing Label, Private Division |first=Matt |last=Bertz |date=December 14, 2017 |access-date=December 14, 2017 |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215005852/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/12/14/take-two-announces-new-publishing-label-private-division.aspx |archive-date=December 15, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The company completed its move of its New York headquarters from [[NoHo]] to more than 61,000 square feet of space in [[Bryant Park]] in early 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://commercialobserver.com/2016/12/take-two-interactive-software-takes-two-floors-at-1133-avenue-of-the-americas/ |title=Take-Two Interactive Takes Two Floors at 1133 Avenue of the Americas |date=December 20, 2016 |website=Commercial Observer |access-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904192227/https://commercialobserver.com/2016/12/take-two-interactive-software-takes-two-floors-at-1133-avenue-of-the-americas/ |archive-date=September 4, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to [[Dan Houser]], Rockstar Games required to expand in the two companies' shared headquarters and thus asked the Take-Two executives to move.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vulture.com/2018/10/the-making-of-rockstar-games-red-dead-redemption-2.html |title=How the West Was Digitized: The making of Rockstar Games' ''Red Dead Redemption 2'' |first=Harold |last=Goldberg |date=October 15, 2018 |website=[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]] |access-date=October 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017150109/http://www.vulture.com/2018/10/the-making-of-rockstar-games-red-dead-redemption-2.html |archive-date=October 17, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> On March 8, 2018, Zelnick attended a White House meeting held by the 45th president of the United States, [[Donald Trump]], along with various other attendees involved with the video game industry, and members of Congress, to discuss video game violence in the wake of the [[Stoneman Douglas High School shooting]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-video-game-meeting-who-is-attending-today-2018-03-08/ |title=Trump's video game meeting: Who's attending? |first=Leah |last=Millis |date=March 8, 2018 |website=[[CBS News]] |access-date=March 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309120356/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-video-game-meeting-who-is-attending-today-2018-03-08/ |archive-date=March 9, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 9, 2018, [[S&P Global]] announced the addition of Take-Two Interactive to the [[S&P 500]], joining two other major video game publishers EA and [[Activision Blizzard]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/take-two-svb-financial-and-nektar-therapeutics-to-join-s-p-500-1520639499 |title=Take-Two, SVB Financial and Nektar Therapeutics to Join S&P 500 |first=Maria |last=Armental |date=March 9, 2018 |access-date=September 4, 2018 |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905102106/https://www.wsj.com/articles/take-two-svb-financial-and-nektar-therapeutics-to-join-s-p-500-1520639499 |archive-date=September 5, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Similar to the situation in 2013, Take-Two started buying back around {{USD|308 million}} of its stock (estimated to be about 2.5% of the outstanding stock), predicated on similar expectations that ''[[Red Dead Redemption 2]]'', to be released in October 2018, would similarly boost the company's profits as ''Grand Theft Auto V'' had done.<ref name="motleyfool 2018" />

On March 29, 2018, Benzies' litigation against Rockstar and Take-Two suffered a significant setback when the companies succeeded in dismissing 12 out of 18 of his claims, though the court did rule that Benzies "remains entitled to receive certain royalties" as part of his compensation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.apprenticeship.ie/ |title=A central route to skills development in Ireland |access-date=November 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809132747/http://www.apprenticeship.ie/ |archive-date=August 9, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/appellate-division-first-department/2018/651920-16-5396-5395.html |title=Benzies v Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc |access-date=October 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525144812/https://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/appellate-division-first-department/2018/651920-16-5396-5395.html |archive-date=May 25, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-04-09-former-gta-producer-suffers-setback-in-usd150m-lawsuit-against-take-two |title=Former GTA producer suffers setback in $150m lawsuit against Take Two |date=April 9, 2018 |access-date=October 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825145624/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-04-09-former-gta-producer-suffers-setback-in-usd150m-lawsuit-against-take-two |archive-date=August 25, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Sometime in 2018, Take-Two levied a legal warning against Benzies' new company Royal Circus Games, citing the similarity of its acronym (RCG) to Rockstar Games (RSG) as an infringement of intellectual property; due to this, Benzies later renamed his company Build a Rocket Boy Games in October 2018. Take-Two had also decried their employment of Rockstar North staff as a deceptive tactic to create an affiliation between them.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/grand-theft-auto-pioneer-accused-of-poaching-staff-in-court-battle-1-4852324 |title=Grand Theft Auto pioneer accused of poaching staff in court battle |first=Martyn |last=McLaughlin |date=January 5, 2019 |website=[[The Scotsman]] |archive-date=January 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106042405/https://www.scotsman.com/news/grand-theft-auto-pioneer-accused-of-poaching-staff-in-court-battle-1-4852324 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Take-Two and the NBA signed a seven-year, {{USD|1.1 billion}} licensing deal to extend Take-Two's rights to develop the ''NBA 2K'' games in January 2019. Analysts estimated that this represented at least 15% of Take-Two's revenue from the sale of ''NBA 2K'' games, atypical of other license deals, due to the growing popularity of the series.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/nba-take-two-ink-licensing-deal-of-up-to-1-1-billion-11547550001 |title=NBA Inks Billion-Dollar Deal With Maker of 2K Videogame |first=Sarah |last=Needleman |date=January 15, 2019 |access-date=January 17, 2019 |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117043628/https://www.wsj.com/articles/nba-take-two-ink-licensing-deal-of-up-to-1-1-billion-11547550001 |archive-date=January 17, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>