Take-Two Scrubs 'Diversity & Inclusion' Focus from Annual Report, Joins Broader Corporate Shift

Take-Two Interactive has quietly scrubbed all references to "diversity and inclusion" from its latest annual report to investors. This phenomenon is increasingly becoming a trend, with a broad array of companies making the same adjustment in line with new policies in a country trying to make its own mistakes everyone else's problem.

As reported by Stephen Totilo via GameFile, Rockstar Games' parent company's 2025 10K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, submitted Tuesday, reveals significant changes in how the company presents its workplace values compared to previous years. Most notably, Take-Two has completely removed references to LGBTQ-related awards that were prominently featured in past reports.

These changes mirror a growing trend among major American corporations distancing themselves from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Other including Disney, Google, GM, and Intel have all recently "deleted or softened their DEI language" in their corporate filings.

The modifications appear strategic done by obligation rather than choice. In the company's 2024 report, Take-Two proudly featured a section titled "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" that began with a clear statement: "We firmly believe that diverse teams are more valuable and effective, and that diversity is key to our success."

Fast forward to the 2025 report, and the company has completely rebranded that section as "Community & Engagement." The updated language now reads: "We firmly believe that diversity of thought drives the innovation that is integral to our success."

The shift from promoting diverse backgrounds to emphasizing "diversity of thought" aligns with language increasingly adopted by corporations seeking to avoid potential political or legal complications. Perhaps most telling is what's missing entirely from the report. Take-Two has dramatically shortened its list of workplace accolades, removing mentions of awards received from LGBTQ organizations.

Industry observers note the timing coincides with recent actions from the Justice Department and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which earlier this year stated that "DEI initiatives, policies, programs, or practices may be unlawful if they involve an employer or other covered entity taking an employment action motivated—in whole or in part—by an employee's or applicant's race, sex, or another protected characteristic."

The entertainment industry, including video games, were caught in the crossfire of the cultural debates of recent years. Many developers faced backlash from certain vocal minorities for incorporating diverse characters and storylines. At the same time, others were on the receiving end of criticism for not doing enough to promote inclusion.

Take-Two's decision comes at an tumultuous time. Grand Theft Auto 6 is one of the most highly anticipated games of all time. It has set a new record in terms of views in entertainment history via its second trailer and it continues to draw eyeballs.

Ahead of its release on May 26, 2026, GTA 6 is drawing concerns about potentially dialing down the humor that made the Grand Theft Auto franchise so iconic. The latest character and location details found on the updated GTA 6 website suggest that Rockstar has not changed its approach at all.

With over a year left before the release of GTA 6, it's unclear how these changes can affect a game that, as per Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, is being polished to perfection. As for Take-Two, the company hasn't announced any concrete changes to its internal policies or hiring practices.