Grand Theft Auto IV Retail Sales Top $500 Million
And the award for the cash cow of the year goes to…Grand Theft Auto IV. There was speculation and even doubt (namely by myself) that Grand Theft Auto IV couldn’t top the numbers that Halo 3 pulled in. Rockstar and Take Two proudly put all that speculation to bed today. I can haz job at Rockstar?
Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. said today that Grand Theft Auto IV has surpassed all-time entertainment records for day one and week one sales by dollar value. Released on Tuesday, April 29th, Grand Theft Auto IV, the critically acclaimed video game, has sold through to consumers approximately 6 million units globally with an estimated retail value of more than $500 million in the first week. Grand Theft Auto IV sold approximately 3.6 million units on its opening day with a retail value of approximately $310 million globally.
“We knew Grand Theft Auto IV would break new ground in terms of the player’s experience, with its compelling story line, extraordinary gameplay and action that ranges over a broad urban canvas. Now, it has broken sales and rating records as well. Grand Theft Auto IV’s first week performance represents the largest launch in the history of interactive entertainment, and we believe these retail sales levels surpass any movie or music launch to date. We congratulate the entire Rockstar team on creating a must-have experience that takes the legendary Grand Theft Auto franchise to a new level,” said Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take-Two.
“Rockstar’s goal is to make each new title in the Grand Theft Auto franchise even better than those that preceded it, and Grand Theft Auto IV is a smashing success on that score. Grand Theft Auto IV makes full use of the power of next generation technology, and offers players an experience unique in the interactive entertainment medium. This game sets a new standard in the industry, with critics hailing it as both an artistic and technological masterpiece,” said Ben Feder, Take-Two’s Chief Executive Officer.
Okay, okay. I was wrong and wrong by a mile. A man can have his faults can’t he? I suppose though that this was to be expected considering the fact that Grand Theft Auto IV is a multi-console game but even still, those are some banana numbers. Join us on an Unscripted Nights Gangsta Paradise event Friday to party with the $500 million dollar machien.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:21 am
/opposite of surprised.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:06 am
haha, caleb you said it.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Can I have some money Rockstar?
I’m not surprised at at all, I know some people that got a 360 for this game.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:18 am
HA! Told you Deac this game would outsell Halo3 in its first week, but noooooooo, you insisted it would never happen!lol. Honestly not surprised though. No doubt it will cross the billion dollar mark by years end.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:21 am
i’m only human, i’m born to make mistakes (forgot who sings that song) lol
May 7th, 2008 at 11:21 am
So Halo 3 brought in 196 million in a day. The killer question: of the 310 million rockstar made in a day, was 196 million of it on only ONE console??
I’ll be excited to find out.
If it was 150 million on one console, and 160 on another, then Halo 3 would still hold “highest opening day sales on a single console.” And for anyone who says that doesn’t matter, tell it to the stats gurus who figure out that no NFL team has ever lost a game after being up by more than 14 points in the second quarter of a play off gaming happening on the third Sunday in January… when it was raining…
…yeah… I made that up. But you get the point.
NuAngel
May 7th, 2008 at 11:24 am
that’s a good question Nu and one that i eluded to. it’s a multi-console game.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:30 am
It’s always going to be tough when multi consoles are involved. I still like when I see the 360 numbers out sell the others just the same. But it will be cool to see the numbers sold on Xbox 360 compared to numbers for Halo 3. No matter what, this game is huge and everywhere. I had no idea this was going to be so big.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:52 am
That’s crazy money! I bet the news media are going to have a field day with this. Let the controversy begin!
Not bad for a game that didn’t go on a media frenzy.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I bet EA is regretting to not try to take over 2k late last year instead of recently.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:56 am
@GameSkills, yeah good point. without the scale of marketing behind it for other top tier titles, it’s even more impressive. i dont’ know from a single console perspective if it beat Halo 3 but like i said, regardless those numbers are bananas.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Who knew GTA IV would sell so well…
May 7th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
it did good in the UK.
May 7th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
sweet. i had a feeling GTA would be the best selling
May 8th, 2008 at 2:03 am
Wow! Kudos to Rockstar Games.