GTAIV breaks more UK records

Rockstar Games' critically lionized open-world action game nabs biggest launch in region's history with 926,000 units in week one, takes top XBL activity.

Following the breakthrough performance of Halo 3, Microsoft made sure everyone interested knew of Bungie's success. The day after the game's release, Microsoft said that Halo 3 had become the "the biggest entertainment launch in [American] history," and followed that announcement up a week later with news that the game had hit $300 million in sales in its first week. However, with nary a dissenting opinion on whether Take-Two and Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV will post massive sales numbers, the publishers have been oddly silent on the game's actual performance.

In the UK at least, Take-Two's tight lips aren't a result of the game not living up to expectations. Chart-Track, the UK's gaming industry stat trackers, said today that Grand Theft Auto IV has become "the biggest All Formats No. 1 ever." According to Chart-Track, GTAIV sold 631,000 copies in its first 24 hours on sale in the UK, up from its initial projection of 609,000 copies, and a total of 926,000 units across the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in its first business week on the market.

ChartTrack pegs first-week revenues for GTAIV in the region at £39.9 million (about $78.7 million), saying the game amounted to 61.2 percent of all sales. The game outpaced sales of previous No. 1 Wii Fit by a ratio of 9-to-1, with ChartTrack saying Nintendo's fitness simulator had dropped off 58 percent due to supply constraints. The industry trackers also noted that GTAIV outsold every 2007 UK release after only one week, save for Brain Training on the Nintendo DS and multiplatform titles FIFA 08 and Call of Duty 4.

Speaking of Call of Duty 4, GTAIV's multiplayer has apparently gone over quite well with online gamers. Microsoft director of programming for Xbox Live Larry Hryb said today on his company blog that the game has unseated Infinity Ward's shooter as the top Xbox Live performer for the week of April 28-May 2. COD4 retreated to second in Xbox Live activity, with Halo 3 falling back to the third slot.

157 Comments

  • megamaster32

    Posted Jul 11, 2008 12:07 pm PT

    saintsrow 2 might be okay but you never know untill it comes out

  • tmantyrone

    Posted Jun 28, 2008 2:33 pm PT

    saints row 2 is going to be better im going to per-order it for xbox360

  • danbrake

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 6:32 am PT

    gta 4 iz a good game but San Andreas is much better the 4th 1 iz all about immigrants but gangs iz better brappp

  • daltonilee

    Posted Jun 16, 2008 8:25 pm PT

    Lamepunk does have a point, but it's the parent's decision to let the kid who will make the stupid choices play GTA IV. I really don't see the big problem with the GTA games. To me they are just games to scare kids away from the mob world.

  • 213kid

    Posted Jun 5, 2008 11:47 pm PT

    COD4 suks GTAIV's dik

  • 213kid

    Posted Jun 5, 2008 11:42 pm PT

    lamepunk ... u pu$$y

  • Isuzulu

    Posted Jun 4, 2008 2:13 pm PT

    yeah I agree about the making it like a sims game thing but I still think they could have kept the car customization because the cars are just boring otherwise.

  • hoppsy1234

    Posted May 29, 2008 7:00 pm PT

    i think this is the best Game in the GTA series the things like haircuts and easting foot and going to the gym made it like a sims game.

  • gazzad

    Posted May 29, 2008 7:56 am PT

    This game was really overhyped, and still really overrated. I mean 10.0 a perfect store? No chance. In many respects GTA IV seems like a step back in the series missing basic things like car customisation and haircuts!

  • nooccire

    Posted May 24, 2008 8:54 pm PT

    unless you have a problem telling the diff. between reality and fiction video games DO NOT make you kill, rob, or kidnap people. and you are either ignorant or upset because your mommy wouldnt let you get the game, so keep snide comments like that to yourself or put them on your "a-holes of america blog".

  • nooccire

    Posted May 24, 2008 8:41 pm PT

    **** YOU lamepunk!

  • nooccire

    Posted May 24, 2008 8:40 pm PT

    lamepunk needs to shut the fk up,u r a fking dumbass

  • Kenji_Masamune

    Posted May 11, 2008 4:36 pm PT

    @bourne2live actually your right. 17.5% of all 360 owners and 21% of all PS3 owners bought GTA 4.

  • lamepunk

    Posted May 11, 2008 2:41 pm PT

    It also has violence that is causing real life people to go out and do stupid things.

  • lordmarkitgs

    Posted May 11, 2008 10:36 am PT

    He's entitled to his own opinion.. sure he thinks it is dumb, but 99% of the gamer population thinks otherwise =).
    I sadly do not yet have this game, as i have neither console. Estimated PC version Oct 08. (unofficial).

  • freudanian

    Posted May 11, 2008 4:49 am PT

    To ALBERTO2045:

    You obviously haven't played this game because there are many more things to do than just drive a car. And to say that it's dumb is a tad silly really becuase it was the top selling game of last generation and probably will be this one too for a very good reason - it's fabulous. No other game has such a fine mix of comedy, action, music, driving ... the list goes on.

  • Antaeus1991

    Posted May 9, 2008 12:52 pm PT

    I have both systems and I really don't see any difference between dual shock and the 360 controller vibration. Personally I couldn't care less if they vibrate.

  • bourne2live

    Posted May 9, 2008 3:30 am PT

    i bet ps3 gta had a higher game-to-system ratio

  • Saije

    Posted May 8, 2008 7:54 pm PT

    Lets face it, none of this news is in any way surprising. We all expected record-breaking success from this title.

  • alberto2045

    Posted May 8, 2008 2:56 pm PT

    wow so much for such a dumb game I really dont like it, have nothing against it but what is so cool about it? I mean you can drivea car and thats about it can you drive a plane? no I mean a perfect 10 has to be a game that you are able to get into anything

  • jacksonm560

    Posted May 8, 2008 9:33 am PT

    im already bored of GTA IV. how did it even get a 10? sure maybe a 9.0+ but not a 10. im already back to playing my cod 4 and halo 3 and so are most of my mates.

  • Doro_is_cool

    Posted May 8, 2008 9:09 am PT

    The PS3 and the 360 Controller schemes are identical, i can switch between playing the PS3 version at my mates and my version on the 360 with ease; apart from the really light controller for the PS3, and when you say about San Andreas; the Control Scheme is totally new, nothing like old GTA

  • infestedcyborg1

    Posted May 8, 2008 7:42 am PT

    Razzi65 no , i mean no one PS3 fanboy want to even see MASTERchief.. we all hate halo... nothing special.. but every 360 owner just begged for gta... now MS fanboys realize wht gta means.. i wish they could play it on DUALSHOCK.. & trust me friends im really not enjying gta on 360 controllers.. it sucks badly.. especially if u've played san andreas on ps2.. dont even try to play it on 360.. it'll make u angry

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    GTA4 plays great on the 360, what are you on about? lol. PS3 pads are good yes but there is nothing wrong with the way it plays with the 360 pad.

  • wilt1725grog

    Posted May 7, 2008 2:19 pm PT

    How many copies of Halo 3 have been sold world wide as of today? Give me a number if anyone in here knows something.

  • SixFt12

    Posted May 7, 2008 1:48 pm PT

    You people fighting over GTAIV and HALO3 are pointless! They are completely different games. It's like compairing apples and oranges. Both games were made with the very best talent this planet has to offer. Bungie and Rockstar love their work and their fans and it shows. I couldn't do without either one. They are the only two reasons I have a 360 and I'm not disappointed in the least.

  • im-a-roustabout

    Posted May 7, 2008 1:26 pm PT

    My last word to all the people bashing violent video games....
    If you stick two people in a room they'll both pick sides and start trying to figure out ways to kill eachother.......We're human.......not perfect.

  • ShadowOfKratos

    Posted May 7, 2008 1:08 pm PT

    now if only EA could do something like this with all their multi-genre expertise, then "maybe", just maybe they could learn a thing or two from R*... instead of just raping ignorant gamers with cheap *** games.

    nice R*... you deserve everything you're getting right now... just don't give into EA... ever... please. we want a nice sequel to this in 4 years or so....

    oh and to "delta3074" and "brentredinger":

    you both need to get out of your own boxes and get a life, coz first of all, people aren't necessarily violent, just curious little mokeys (hehe, no offense) that happen to like doing things that they normally wouldn't do or can't do, just to see what happens... secondly the game does not glorify beeing a criminal, it actually lets you face the consequences... in a consequence-free environment that is, if that makes sense, lol... you know... you face them, but you have the reset button, unlike real life... I guess it's people like you two who can't tell the difference between life and video games... coz unless it's a sports simulator, you're not supposed to imitate it in real life...

  • stinkyfriend

    Posted May 7, 2008 12:20 pm PT

    i wished my gta4 worked

  • delta3074

    Posted May 7, 2008 11:17 am PT

    brentredinger firstly not all humans are violent and secondly people do not run around gunning down hundreds of cops in real life i won't be getting this game cos i am completely against games that glorify being a criminal and killing cops and it's not my kind of game.congrats to rockstar for there success and the fact that they justified telling EA where to go this is also good news for my country (uk) as the revenue from worldwide sales will end up here. it also proves that this country still has a viable software industry. on the point of halo 3 i happen to like the games single player campaign and i know a lot of people don't but the game certainly isn't crap.

  • brentredinger

    Posted May 7, 2008 10:16 am PT

    I'm tired of the "its sad a violent video game is the best" crap! I'm sorry i have to break it to some of you...humans are violent. All the non-violent species were killed a long time ago because they were weak. Who said violence was bad? The people in charge did...they want a monopoly on violence. they bomb the **** out of people and say "violence video games are the problem!" What a bunch of BS. Did Rockstar invent new guns for GTA4? No, they are real models used to kill real people.

  • SonyRulzU

    Posted May 7, 2008 9:57 am PT

    The game rips it up. Everyone over 17 should be playing this game. I've put in 22 hours and I'm 45% done. That's crazy, I've done like 51 missions. And i've been playing the multiplayer as well. Two thumbs up to you Rockstar. So hurry up guys and gals, get online so I can shoot yo in da face!

  • fishnpeas1

    Posted May 7, 2008 9:57 am PT

    London 1960s add on pack would rule
    realistically they only need to use DLC to do london, SA or VC now, since we have the engine - I reckon there would be big bucks to be made!

  • kos1085

    Posted May 7, 2008 9:39 am PT

    Comes to show that if you make a great game then more people will buy it. Cant wait for GTAVI vice city and GTAVI san andres. Would even like to see a GTA back in the London setting.

  • Afko

    Posted May 7, 2008 9:37 am PT

    Nice job Rockstar, congrats once again for ur great taste in games! You always add those nice spices in your new coming gta game series, which make the game more and more interesting !!

    This is for Halo 3 whiners, who themselves, started talking about the GTAIV game ages before its release because they thought the game wud suck...of course in their minds they had that voice saying...we are screwed...GTA will rock the ranks again...damn...ur inside voice was right, ur ideas....pff...WRONG !!....Halo 3...play it once...win it in like 15 hours....wow...good...whats after that? ...multi ? pff....interesting...same shiit different map...the rank promotion is still bad....one thing i want to say though ....halo 3 soundtrack does rock and i do like it. \../ GTA IV ROCKS and its now official \../

  • Hvac0120

    Posted May 7, 2008 9:27 am PT

    OH... and about Halo 3 sales....

    Sure, there are more 360's and if the game was multiplatform it would have sold more than it did.

    BUT...

    A lot of people bought the game just because they knew that everyone else would be getting it and they didn't want to miss out. Of course there are tons of other reasons, including those who really wanted the game.

    The point is that a lot of people were disappointed with Halo 3 when it came out. I believe less people will be disappointed with their GTA IV purchase than people are/were with their Halo 3 purchase.

  • Hvac0120

    Posted May 7, 2008 9:22 am PT

    The thing about Larry Hryb's blog post is that these numbers are compiled by all players connected to live. Every time someone connected to Live starts the game disc, a tick is added to that games tracker.

    So these numbers are necessarily telling us that GTA IV has more multiplayer matches going on. It just says that more Xbox360 owners are playing GTA IV than COD4.

    Just take a look at the note he puts on the post.

    I really like the multiplayer in the game. I think I will have a lot of fun with it once I complete the SP missions.

  • JMatheson

    Posted May 7, 2008 8:54 am PT

    It is official, GTA 4 sold $500 Million dollars of sales in its first week! Close to $300 in its first day!! Google news GTA 4 to find out for yourself!

  • Irve

    Posted May 7, 2008 8:51 am PT

    wilt1725grog : i'm sure in one of the articles they talked about sales numbers for Halo 3.
    to be honest i would have thought that Halo 3 would sell more if it came out today now that there are more 360's on the market ... but as a rule of thumb take the Halo sales double the total to include all the PS3 units and you'll be close to total sales of GTA4

  • maoonparas

    Posted May 7, 2008 7:49 am PT

    nice work Rockstar

  • Amir29

    Posted May 7, 2008 7:08 am PT

    I never had a doubt that GTA IV would be a record breaking release. I'm not sure about the online statistics though. The game is VERY new. Let's give it some time to settle in and see how many people are just "checking out" the online component as opposed to using it aon a regular basis.

  • DPumbliQ

    Posted May 7, 2008 6:35 am PT

    Well I'm just glad this game is doing well, both on PS3 and 360, it's not surprising that the 360 version is outselling the PS3 version, I'm kinda surprised people didn't expect that, 360 has of course sold more then PS3

    Though the PS3 version most likely outselling the 360 one where I live, well since PS3 is the most sold console in Iceland......

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