Take-Two Interactive Software Inc (NASDAQ: TTWO) shares surged 7.35% in Friday's pre-market trading session, fueled by a better-than-expected earnings outlook and the company's affirmation of the highly-anticipated release of "Grand Theft Auto VI" later this year.

The video game publisher reported a narrower-than-expected loss for its fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2024, beating analyst estimates for adjusted earnings per share. While revenue slightly missed expectations, the company's key net bookings metric grew 3% year-over-year, driven by the exceptional performance of its NBA 2K franchise.

More significantly, Take-Two Interactive reiterated the release of the highly-anticipated "Grand Theft Auto VI" in Fall 2025, a crucial catalyst that fueled investor optimism and propelled the stock higher pre-market. The company also highlighted its robust pipeline of other major game launches scheduled for 2025, including "Sid Meier's Civilization VII," "Mafia: The Old Country," and "Borderlands 4."

Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, expressed confidence that the company's strong game lineup would drive record levels of net bookings in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, further boosting investor sentiment. The video game publisher's positive earnings outlook and the upcoming release of marquee titles like "Grand Theft Auto VI" have investors eagerly anticipating a new period of growth and returns.