No next-gen GTA until 2007?

Take-Two executives dodge PS3 exclusivity and launch questions, tell analysts not to expect any next-generation sequels from Rockstar Games until November 2006--at the earliest.

When it released its quarterly earnings report today, Rockstar Games' parent company, Take-Two Interactive, narrowed the time frame for the debut of the Grand Theft Auto series on next-generation consoles. As part of its outlook for its ongoing 2006 fiscal year, which ends on Halloween, the company said it is readying "a sequel of a Rockstar brand for a current-generation console system." (Emphasis added.) Though Take-Two did say it will release a new GTA game for the PlayStation Portable during that time, the statement eliminated any chance that a next-gen installment in the franchise will make its traditional late-October window.

Indeed, Take-Two's earnings announcement went on to explicitly say that, other than the just-announced Table Tennis, no Rockstar game will arrive on next-generation consoles before the beginning of its next fiscal year. "For [fiscal] 2007, the company anticipates a strong next-generation lineup from Rockstar Games, including sequels to several of Rockstar's most successful franchises," Take-Two's statement said. That means the earliest a next-gen GTA could arrive would be November 2006, right around the same time Sony is expected to launch its PlayStation 3 in the US.

But while all GTA games since 2001's Grand Theft Auto III have debuted on a Sony console--2004's Grand Theft Auto Advance excepted--Take-Two executives refused to say if the first next-gen GTA will be a PS3-exclusive. When asked by an analyst in a postannouncement conference call if Take-Two has decided to partner with either Sony or Microsoft for the "next console version of GTA," CEO Paul Eibeler demurred. "Our guys are very, very excited about the opportunity that next-gen hardware presents," he said.

When asked by the same analyst if Take-Two could possibly release two different GTA games--one for the Xbox 360 and another for the PS3, Eibeler gave a similarly cautious response. "Anything is possible," he said "but, you know, it will be what you would expect in a great Grand Theft Auto product." He then directed the analyst "to refer back to our press release, where we said that we have a strong lineup of next-generation products from Rockstar in [fiscal] 2007, including some of their best franchises."

After UBS analyst Mike Wallace asked about how a November PS3 launch would affect Take-Two's 2006 fiscal year, Eibeler clammed up entirely. "I'm going to go underneath your question," he said. "In terms of when is PlayStation 3 really going to launch...our crystal ball really doesn't address that, and we certainly look at Sony in terms of further information there."

166 Comments

  • slusheewoot

    Posted Mar 29, 2007 9:11 am PT

    Yayer.Trailer out now

  • SGT_BLACK

    Posted Dec 8, 2006 8:49 pm PT

    2007, I'm too impatient to wait that long, man? I'm going to pre-order as soon as possible.It better be good and worth the wait and the money!!!

  • xJasminex

    Posted Sep 22, 2006 5:06 am PT

    Damn.. 2007?

    I agree with defogger. >__

  • defogger

    Posted Aug 27, 2006 7:34 am PT

    Why would they even make a release date this much ahead of time.....it's torture.

  • mentalhelp

    Posted Aug 20, 2006 12:03 pm PT

    This game better be worth my money.
    I am buying a PS3 because of Mercinaries 2 and GTA 4.

  • sailingmanuel

    Posted Jul 15, 2006 8:11 am PT

    Thats not right....

  • maoonparas

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 6:41 am PT

    cant wait! but gta vice city stories are coming too! this year!

  • benboz

    Posted Jun 16, 2006 2:08 am PT

    Man we have to wait until 2007 for GTA 4. I am a huge fan of the GTA series!

  • mitchtropico

    Posted Apr 16, 2006 5:14 am PT

    Great! With the extra time they can make this one the best yet!!!

  • Boomer0283

    Posted Mar 18, 2006 8:43 am PT

    GTA needs to come out in 2007 that way politicans can point fingers at ofther games and maybe Take-Two can perfect more on the GTA series game they coming out with. Plus, with the money loss on the whole Hot Coffee thing they need to get a gross in the profit.

  • thayes007

    Posted Mar 14, 2006 11:02 am PT

    It will be on the PS3 in a few years its not that long

  • GamesGru

    Posted Mar 14, 2006 9:27 am PT

    We must have another GTA...its just to long to wait

  • shawnomac

    Posted Mar 13, 2006 5:58 pm PT

    yea i just take this as an opportunity to go back and play all of em over again. especially since i finished LSC a while ago, itll give me a good chance to play the story again. i highly doubt that even another psp gta will come out by november 2006.

  • futbolfreak10

    Posted Mar 13, 2006 4:21 pm PT

    i sure hope its on xbox 360

  • genrallevve

    Posted Mar 13, 2006 1:32 pm PT

    what more will the gta need? i know a battle in the middle of africa with ono people to kill. what would u do then you freeks???

  • smurfa1

    Posted Mar 13, 2006 12:48 pm PT

    Ohh. I really want a new GTA. I hope it will come to the X360 cause I have no plans to throw 700$ on a PS3 just to play GTA.

  • Sparda177

    Posted Mar 12, 2006 11:23 am PT

    make a GTA for the NES (make it have like 70 cartriges and you have to switch a cartrige everytime you do something like change guns or get in a car)....changing the cartriges should keep us busy untill the next GTA for like PS3 comes out

  • DragonLanceFire

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 6:18 pm PT

    The long wait was expected. I jusst want this thing to be big. SA times 10. Come on Rockstar make another classic. Things that should be included: cameos by all three main characters, and how about giving Claude a voice and some depth you finally gave him a name. All three locals and a different one. some knew vechiles, how bout rollerstakes, these ideas would get trashed, but I'm waiting for Rockstar to amaze me again.

  • Robyf

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 1:47 pm PT

    thats sucks i was ecpecting to come on ps2 for the last time and GTA: liberty stories doesn't count. for a new GTA game for ps2. but i guess thats not going to happen. but what ever they do don't kill the GTA .

  • Reetesh

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 2:39 am PT

    Next Gen GTA o_O Just cant imagine how great it ill be

  • roymon

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 2:25 pm PT

    WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • antifener89

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 11:42 am PT

    I mean what were you expecting people are still buying SA, this is no FIFA, they don't need to release a game every year...I think 2007 is just fine.

  • Gibsontrey

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 9:00 am PT

    wait-wait-wait!

  • onigedaki

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 7:01 am PT

    GTA "Motor City"? I hope so.

  • Rectifier201

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 7:01 pm PT

    A next-gen GTA is gonna be the best game made ever.. GTA games are so amazingly fun and enjoyable and filled with so many easters and hidden items and stuff that there's no game that beats it. I wonder how this next one will top San Andreas.

  • rl_41

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 5:28 pm PT

    I'm not disappointed by this, I can't picture a GTA better than San Andreas (I would just be happy with some PS3-enhanced graphics, and maybe a couple more minigames i duno). But seriously, A slightly enhanced San Andreas would be really cool -- all the best gangsterus stuff has been used up.

  • Mp5slipknot

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 3:21 pm PT

    I say take their time to get back on their feet from all the legal mumbo jumbo they had to deal with so that they can delieve another quality game.

  • FernandoDANTE

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 1:47 pm PT

    Well, OF COURSE it won't be 2006. We would at least have the title of the game if it were 2006.

  • ElJefeDeMedios

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 1:36 pm PT

    I second Sh1nka's comments - i was worried given thier loss of revenue (recently) and political pressure that R* would cave-in, or at least wait for awhile for the pressure to subside. Good for them.

  • amirkalloe

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 1:02 pm PT

    Need..to...get...play...more...GTA....games

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 12:29 pm PT

    It would be smart (profitability-wise) for Rockstar to develop GTA for both the 360 and the PS3.

  • dounowhatiam

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 12:02 pm PT

    huh gta the same old stuff over and over again but now with a lot better graphics.hmm i am going to buy it with ps3 so i can be cool

  • Sh1nka

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 11:58 am PT

    it's good to see that a whole bunch of critics can't stop one of the bext games series ever coming to are next generation consoles. Glad to see it. And it's actually a good thing for it to be out in 2007, at least it wont be rushed, the later the better for this game.

  • Limonadi

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 11:16 am PT

    I don`t want to see john cena in it

  • DrKill09

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 10:57 am PT

    If GTA is on PS3, there will be a GIANT console war, because Saint's Row looks to be a 360 exclusive.

  • njsykora

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 10:26 am PT

    That was the sound of every PS3 fanboy exploding.

    Good riddance.

  • fmcuk

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 9:30 am PT

    Oh....Couldn't they just wait 'till 3007?
    To get the more-of-the-same-krap-with-different-name game, we have the usual bunch of suspects (EA, Capcom, etc....)

  • Fatality4u

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 9:00 am PT

    I can live longer without one. I think that they also want to do a lot more testing with this one, so they don't have another Hot Coffee fiasco.

  • ufopuller

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 8:58 am PT

    Too late. I'll be gone by then

  • ss4lawrence

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 8:44 am PT

    yea play gta san andreas again i am

  • dusteater

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 8:42 am PT

    PS3 may not be out until 2007 anyways. So it might be a launch title.

  • booya281

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 8:17 am PT

    I'd be nice if Rockstar would roll a copy of GTA out for the Nintendo Rev...

  • jsloane

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 7:49 am PT

    Thats alright GTA needs a break to get fresh again *cough*tonyhawk*cough* With games like Saints Row and Crackdown to look out for this year it would be best for them to work on it a while.

  • Mista_Sal

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 7:39 am PT

    Meh, the GTA series has gotten real stale lately so this doesn't really concern me.

  • Star2020

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 6:58 am PT

    GTA is one of the best games I've ever seen even though I didnt play any of them but I'll propably pick this one when it comes out.

  • M3mOrY

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 6:55 am PT

    It's better to wait with a release then to release it before the game is as good as they can do it, there already are to many bad games out there, give the developers the time they need to finish and make the game even better.

  • dru26

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 6:55 am PT

    Speculation was of Red Dead Revolver 2

  • doctor_kaz

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 6:44 am PT

    I wonder what this sequel is going to be. What other Rockstar franchises are there? Manhunt?

  • TheBigTicket21

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 6:18 am PT

    i need new GTA

  • Bobcat63

    Posted Mar 8, 2006 6:14 am PT

    I hope its multiplat but probably not because they will want my money and make me go out and buy a PSP or PS3 so I can play it.

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