Grand Theft Auto V expected to sell 14 million at launch
By
Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor
Sterne Agee analyst says Rockstar's next open-world crime game will hit in the first quarter of 2013, bringing $700 million in sales with it.
Grand Theft Auto V will sell more at launch than Grand Theft Auto IV managed in its first year on shelves, according to one analyst. Sterne Agee's Arvind Bhatia today released a note to investors, saying he expects the game to debut in the first three months of 2013, posting sales of 14 million copies.
Bhatia said the GTAV launch should bring in about $700 million in revenue for Take-Two, which said it expected just over $1 billion for Rockstar products this fiscal year. With Max Payne 3 the only announced Rockstar title to launch this year, Bhatia believes it "is all but a given" that the publisher is planning to launch GTAV before the March 31, 2013, end of its fiscal year.
For perspective on just how big the game is for the publisher, Take-Two's previous fiscal year saw total revenues of $825.8 million. The publisher has projected this year's sales to hit $1.75 billion to $1.85 billion. That uptick has led to widespread agreement from analysts that GTAV will launch in Take-Two's current fiscal year.
GTAIV debuted in April of 2008 and shipped 13 million before the end of March 2009. The game enjoyed sales over a prolonged stretch of time, as two years later, Take-Two said shipments had reached nearly 20 million.
By
Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor
Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.
277 comments
3 Like I agree with the analysts I believe GTAV will do even better than any previous GTA titles. As a matter of fact maybe even Rockstars biggest hit ever. Just cuz everyone knows what to expect and its been a long enough time between GTAIV and GTAV that i believe that the anticipation is only building in fans so when it releases BOOM! And rightfully so GTA is the future of gaming!
4 Like Hmm. There's definitely potential for success in any GTA game. I believe the key to success is to incorporate all the unique ideas and features from the previous GTA games into the new product. You can't just take away parachutes, commercial jets, and off-roading, and expect no one to notice.
Before I buy a GTA game, I research whether or not I can have new as well as similar experiences. I believe that's what GTA is all about. Experiences. Everyone's preference for experience is different which is why variety is so important. Variety in character development, variety in environments, variety in game mechanics. That variety is what allows me to play GTA games years after release. Funny glitches never hurt anyone either ;)
All I care about is that if it's as good as LA Noire, Red Dead Redemption, and Max Payne 3 were, story-wise, I'll be set. I know GTA V's multiplayer will be good because I am finding it really hard to put down Max Payne 3's multplayer just to go get something to eat. Haven't played a game like this in forever, minus Red Dead.
These articles are ridiculous!
.
point should be that GameSpot shouldn't cater to "investors'" ears but us the readers, gamers who don't care about number crunching and "analysts" we want info on GAMES not BUSINESS.
What do i care how much a game sold, ill google that shit if i care.
1 Like @Dragdar look bro first of all I do care about business and i am sure other ppl do so. Second Gamespot is a site for games with all this implies. Finaly who said that i want to open 100 pages to find how much a game sold? noone! so next time add on your comment the words ''imo= in my opinion'' and dont be rude.
4 Like Despite the fact that it'll have an awesome world, great physics, great game-play and tons to do, I care most about the story.
GTA IV, Red Dead Redemption, LA Noire and Max Payne 3 all have some of the most unforgettable stories and/or characters in the history of gaming and I can't wait to see what they do next.
I hope they make the protagonist like Niko, a seemingly nice guy with a tough life, not like the past GTA protagonists who all seem like gangsters or mobsters off the bat. Niko is the greatest, most well-developed gaming character of all time in my opinion.
I see GTA V shipping 10 million on release but not 14. This Gen is getting very old and people are getting ready for bigger and better things. I have a feeling GTA V wil sell about 15 million copies over its lifetime.
as what mafia 2 version is looked when all vehicles using gas so when it finish the player looked for a gas station and re-full again it will good if u do grand theft auto v like the same
1 Like grand theft auto v would be good if u upgrade all vehicles using gas so it empty the player could find a gas station and re- full again that will very excellent for that game
i would if u put all the vehicles in the grand theft auto 5 game using gas so every vehicles could go into all gas station and re full again
Agree GTA games are highly polished and almost perfect, technically at least Gameplaywise it strayed away from "FUN" in GTA 4, which was technically impressive but uninspiring gameplaywise contrasted to GTASA which was pure fun.
I do like playing simulators, but to give GTA a serious tone that made it feel like a simulator was a bad move because it loss all the FUN. I will wait for reviews before buying this one and blame it on GTA 4, not looking for high scores, but to understand the mechanics of the game.
If this one does not go back to the GTSA formula and sticks with GTA 4 style then I will wait for a price cut before purchase.
@jagcivtec It was a bit serious but The Ballad of Gay Tony did a complete U-turn. It was ridiculous action right off the bat (and lots of fun). I thought it was almost too ridiculous but I can't deny the fun factor of it.
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@DashRender619 well, like I said, it felt like a simulator, example: the car stealing mechanic took for ever, 1-try to open door, 2-look around, 3-break window, 4-finally get in, 5-disable alarm, 6-finally drive off. That's the way it works in real life, not fun in a game. Get my point, many other mechanics were likewise.
The reason you say "Rockstar is seriously good" is because of the fact they "wait for too much time between Gta series" and that is what makes their games so unique and awesome and so well near perfection when they release them! If "They should be quicker" as you said there then you'd end up with games from them that become over-saturated and lack quality which will disappoint many and practically ruin the company's reputation!! The way R* makes games and the time they take in between titles to make games should the norm for a lot of companies churning out low quality games annually today that are short in campaign and many only purchase it for the multiplayer or something or just for the title of what it's called!
Oooh i rlly hate waiting for GTA series.Rockstar is seriously good but They are lazy and wait for too much time between Gta series.They should be quicker.Cant wait for Gta 5 because Gta is always one of my top favorite..
@BehzatPinar Rockstar fortunately doesn't focus just on GTA, look at how many other games they made.
They're not lazy, they obviously dont want to push out GTAs every two years.
@Dragdar Yeah you are right but i think im a little bit Gta fanatic and its rlly hard to wait for the new game.Otherwise i played L.A Noire couldnt like it so much,Red Dead Redemption was another top game.i bought Max Payne 3 but havent played yet.But dont know why Gta is my favorite game and its rlly hard to wait 4,5 years for the new one.
grand theft auto v should have tractors putting sand and more things into heavy duty trucks and mini trucks with open back that will be very good for the game
grand theft auto v should have the player picking up goods and put into all vehicles goods as boxes of beer, food boxes even hardware should be going on heavy duty vehicles as trailers trucks, vans, mini trucks, open back trucks and more it very good for that games improvements
i need grand theft auto v game to have USA map and even a lot of activity as playing with policemen, firemen,taxi cabs,trailer trucks and active all places as factory,homes,hotels, restaurants, hospitals and u can play with all vehicles as police cars , every forces needs and if u do that everybody in the world would love this games
i need all police station to be available even everywhere else as jobs restaurants, factory, hotel, school, homes and plus to bay places and cars even more
2 Like @terrynoel Your grasp on game design is about as firm as the one you have on the English language.
all what i need in this grant theft auto v for i to play with the policeman as applying for job in the police force and others places too
I don't think it's wise for them to over-estimate the potential sales like this.
Not only are we dealing with a limping economy, but there are now really good series of a similar ilk (Saints Row) and a growing discontent for the 7th gen. Some gamers are waiting for the 8th gen and others are simply ditching consoles all together.
GTA is the most over rated frannchise in the history of gaming.[img]http://www.demama.info/g.gif[/img]
2 Like GTA 5 has to be amazing. But for that they are going to have to put more on the table. even if they don't have to much room to improve they have to find a way. CAN'T WAIT.
4 Like I would pay a lot for an HD Vice City. Keep the gameplay exactly the same as the original, just update the graphics.
the problem is gta can never be more than it is, since its in los santos it would have to be even better than san andreas, but apart from that it could never ditch the planes, trains and automobiles, so it's middled into being a rehash, it will never innovate. but then again neither did call of duty after modern warfare 2, and the games didnt sell much after, made activsion broke as a matter of fact.
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@DashRender619 i hate COD too but com'on now do you honestly see any game out selling COD in the near future,or even being any threat to COD sales
yes sooner or later some game (likely shooter) will outsell COD but that game is not GTAIV but if it is i will gladly GTFO as u suggested
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Related Game
Grand Theft Auto V
- Publisher(s): Rockstar Games
- Developer(s): Rockstar North
- Genre: Action
- Release:
- ESRB: M
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