GTAIV sales top 10M, Chinatown Wars by Feb '09

Blockbuster helps Take-Two rake in $51.8 million in net income on $433.8 million in quarterly revenue; no 360 GTA DLC before November.

From the moment it was announced for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, it was clear that Grand Theft Auto IV would be big. Today, publisher Take-Two Interactive revealed just how big. Reporting earnings for its third fiscal quarter, the company revealed the blockbuster sold 10 million copies at retailers worldwide as of August 16. That's a 1.5 million-unit jump from the 8.5 million-unit milestone GTA hit May 31.

For the three months ending July 31, Take-Two reported $433.8 million in revenue, more than double the $206.4 million it took in during the same quarter in 2007. Crediting GTA IV, Top Spin 3, and Civilization Revolution sales for the cash influx, the publisher said it earned $51.8 million in net income, up $110 million from the $58.5 million it lost during the same quarter last year.

The uptick came in spite of a $5.4 million charge "in professional fees and legal expenses, primarily related to Electronic Arts' unsolicited tender offer." EA let its offer lapse on August 18, and is currently talking with Take-Two in order to "validate the assumptions used in the model to support our offer," according to CEO John Riccitiello.

Take-Two made several other announcements of import to Grand Theft Auto fans. First off was the revelation that the episodic content for the Xbox 360 edition of GTAIV would not arrive in the company's current fiscal year, which ends on October 31. Despite a bevy of contradictory delay rumors, Microsoft told GameSpot at the end of August that the update, which is 360-exclusive, remains scheduled for "fall 2008."

Secondly, during a conference call with analysts, CEO Ben Feder said both "the Japanese version of Grand Theft Auto Grand Theft Auto IV...and a new GTA title, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, will be released in Q1 fiscal 2009." The publisher's oddly skewed fiscal year means Chinatown Wars, the first GTA game for the DS, could be released any time from November 1, 2008 to January 31, 2009. When asked by an analyst if the game would be out before Christmas, Feder replied, "I didn't say that," but declined to elaborate further.

Take-Two also revealed its release schedule for the rest of its fiscal 2008 year. The lineup includes the delayed Midnight Club: Los Angeles, Midnight Club: LA Remix, NBA 2K9, Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization, and BioShock for the PS3. The company's fiscal 2009 lineup features the aforementioned Chinatown Wars and 360 DLC, Grand Theft Auto IV for the PC, NHL 2K10, NBA 2K10, Champions Online, MLB Superstars, Mafia II, and BioShock 2.

178 Comments

  • Marcster1994

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 2:19 pm GMT

    That's kinda weird for the fact that the Free roam might not be that good. unless the DSi can fix that

  • zeeshan810

    Posted Nov 10, 2008 4:52 pm GMT

    GTA WILL TAKING OVER THE WORLD SOON***

  • CCyberDDemon

    Posted Sep 29, 2008 2:15 pm GMT

    haha me too onean

  • Avals

    Posted Sep 23, 2008 2:03 am GMT

    GTAIV is a legend..

  • oneandonlyjc

    Posted Sep 16, 2008 6:16 pm GMT

    I hate killing pedestrians in GTA they seem so real in this game and I feel bad when I do it!

  • diangelogrey

    Posted Sep 15, 2008 10:46 pm GMT

    They have some very nice titles coming out.. Im looking forward to a lot of these games.

  • jaik

    Posted Sep 15, 2008 3:40 pm GMT

    im so glad that EA won't take over T2. Just imagine what would they do to NBA 2K series !!??

  • GreenXMega

    Posted Sep 13, 2008 10:27 am GMT

    I had spent the last sixty bucks on this game! Yesssssssssssssss!
    (Translation: I was the last one in the three months ending July 31 to buy this game).

  • KING_KEV_321

    Posted Sep 13, 2008 9:39 am GMT

    this the best rockstar game im still playin it now an i got wen it first came out online games are crazy gud nex on ma list is midnight club los angeles

  • star77241

    Posted Sep 12, 2008 11:53 am GMT

    I wish they'd bring Chinatown Wars to the Wii as well. If they don't, I hope that they're working on some GTA for the Wii.

  • necronaux

    Posted Sep 12, 2008 10:27 am GMT

    I was hoping to see the DS version by x-mas.

  • surppo

    Posted Sep 11, 2008 11:26 pm GMT

    on the ds, its probably gonna be a port of the old gta games. it was top down like zelda except with thugs instead of elves

  • GuyverV

    Posted Sep 11, 2008 2:13 pm GMT

    they've got a big line up coming...

  • SpartonGhost

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 7:06 pm GMT

    LoL Mjc I agree. GTA on the DS sounds just "interesting" I mean maybe it's not your cup of tea but I'd personally like to see what they're doing with it.Even if it is a letdown, there's still Midnight Club on the way

  • mjc0961

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 8:19 am GMT

    Oh boy, GTA on my DS! Now I can draw a bullet on the bad guy I want to shoot! Yippee! >_>

  • Temps567

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 8:31 pm GMT

    I think this will be a let-down to. I hope it isn't going to be like the one on the gba. Now the one on the psp is really good. I hope the one for ds is going to be like dat one.

  • Temps567

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 8:31 pm GMT

    I think this will be a let-down to. I hope it isn't going to be like the one on the gba. Now the one on the psp is really good. I hope the one for ds is going to be like dat one.

  • TXMostWanted

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 10:28 pm GMT

    GTA on DS? Sounds ambitious, but at least I can look foward to something on the portable that isn't made by Nintendo lol

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 8:48 am GMT

    With no information to go on about China Wars, we can only expect it to be a let-down. It seems like a last minute deal that Nintendo made to get something GTA onto their system.

    I'd hate to see a GTA go bad, but the DS just doesn't seem like the right place and this short development time spells disaster. Hopefully Rockstar is the developer and they have had this planned out for a while. Otherwise they shouldn't have wasted their time.

  • metalkid9

    Posted Sep 7, 2008 7:31 pm GMT

    rockstar games rules!! It's probably my favorite game publisher

  • Sparky2002

    Posted Sep 7, 2008 7:59 am GMT

    By the time DLC comes outfor xbox no one will be even playing GTA.V. Besides Die hard fans, I already have moved on myself, Game in my mind was very Blan, graphically buaitiful but the gameplay extremely limited & a big flop. not enough in thier to keep you playing the game over & over, like GTA SA had a massive ton of side missions & upgrades to the person cars.. also skills to do up in shoot bike riding casino.. so on so forth...

  • geomyr

    Posted Sep 7, 2008 6:20 am GMT

    heck if only i got a ps3 ill surelly by gta4 too bad i dont have the money to buy it

  • xyboink

    Posted Sep 7, 2008 2:14 am GMT

    TakeTwo is a better developper than EA. Look to their releases. so much games AND for all the platforms: PSP, PS2/Ps3, PC, DS,... I think it is better that EA don't take-over TakeTwo, if EA does, i think that TakeTwo become bad and bad. Concurrencion is a nice amount to raise good (and lot) games. Good for us !

  • gamemaster004 posted Sep 6, 2008 11:00 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    gamemaster004

    Posted Sep 6, 2008 11:00 pm GMT (hide)

    Bio-shock will be a well welcome addition to the playstation family... Next year station 3 will take over!

  • tawagivercetti

    Posted Sep 6, 2008 8:47 pm GMT

    Can't wait for Chinatown wars, hope they bring out a new ds bundle for it. Finally a ds game with a bit of grunt.

  • tawagivercetti

    Posted Sep 6, 2008 8:46 pm GMT

    GtaIV overrated?? This is perhaps the lamest statement ever. Go play with your exsorbeo gtaiv haters. The game is brilliant.

  • jason19

    Posted Sep 6, 2008 7:56 pm GMT

    in some say need chat dort not to easy i did on easy win np

  • jason19

    Posted Sep 6, 2008 7:54 pm GMT

    in to get 10.000 you must do some car job i use find car stal there in must fun all i do for job my live is help my dad lol form work so live sweet but say my typs bad leter im get help form docot i have my hand is miss up so why i typs bad srroy

  • jason19

    Posted Sep 6, 2008 7:51 pm GMT

    my typs is bad sure get that games was to easy paly notion to do end i hate that get grilfrineds can have baby get mercer lest gta that games was stuip may went try rent frist dort bay to be it see like i happin i did but i like in more ps2 in 1 gameas so some bad suff im 50 oid so can get me in jail i say that so say gtat it all abont

  • Un4givingAsault

    Posted Sep 6, 2008 4:39 pm GMT

    GTA IV, most over rated gave ever. San Andreas pinicle of GTA glory

  • Un4givingAsault

    Posted Sep 6, 2008 4:37 pm GMT

    who cares, GTA IV most the over rated game ever. repatitave, easy, bland, and did i say repatitive. Like honestly when u me a series of games u think the next one could contain all the goods from the prevouis ones, not remove them.

  • mm5048

    Posted Sep 6, 2008 11:42 am GMT

    i dont know what the dlc is, but i heard its vice city and san andreas, correct?

  • ps3thabest

    Posted Sep 6, 2008 7:56 am GMT

    how did gta4 get 10 mill?overrated games go a long way!

  • ColdGen

    Posted Sep 6, 2008 1:44 am GMT

    I think the DLC is exclusive to the 360 but as MS own the operating system you never know!

  • tjoeb123

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 10:16 pm GMT

    anyone know if the DLC will be in the PC version?

  • tawagivercetti

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 8:29 pm GMT

    what you think rockstar work for free? how you think they make 10million by giving out free stuff? Also message to Johnny-try playing the game without cheats, you'll see how much you really suck.

  • bestbuy319

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 6:39 pm GMT

    do we have to pay for dlc ?

  • Thorpe89 Site moderator

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 6:09 pm GMT

    Can't wait for the DLC. I sure hope it'll be worth the wait.

  • perfect_chao

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 3:57 pm GMT

    SR2 multiplayer on PC ftw!

  • prioritymail

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 2:40 pm GMT

    So that means it went Diamond! Amazingly fast, too

  • Lord_Regnier posted Sep 5, 2008 1:59 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Lord_Regnier

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 1:59 pm GMT (hide)

    Another win for the hype machine!

  • YoJim8obaJoe

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 1:48 pm GMT

    I wonder if the content will stay exclusive or if they'll do a Capcom with it "Yes these games are all cube exclusives guaranteed"
    "Games now coming to PS2 with added content"

  • PeteyPablo10001

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 1:10 pm GMT

    @ eduardvictor

    You have no clue what you are talking about. If you dont purchase a game and play it through you shouldn't bash it makes you look a giant idiot.

    Plus GTA series even sid meier series are sweet.

  • XanderZane

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 1:07 pm GMT

    Looking forward to NBA 2K9, GTA IV (DLC), Midnight Club LAX for this year. Can't worry about next year, until next year actually arrives.

  • Tyras12

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 1:02 pm GMT

    At Henninger

    You don't know the difference between Developers & Publishers. Developers make the game, publishers publish the game. Rockstar was the developer...Take-Two is a publisher, they never make games. They are like sponsers, help promote. And I find it annoying that people just can't be bothered to go out and play real sports instead of virtual sports...

  • akiwak

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 12:39 pm GMT

    So the game made a killing both ingame and in sales. Glad I do not have to purchase this game at the premium price of $60. I will just wait till it becomes a greatest hits and get it for possibly half the price. I just don't HAVE to play this game just yet. I will eventually get to it and enjoy what the 10million people already have.

  • Henninger

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 10:47 am GMT

    @ Amir29

    Rockstar doesn't make all of those games. & Rockstar isn't making Bioshock 2. Take-Two is making them not Rockstar. Rockstar is a part of the company but they're not making the game.

    Anywayz lookin 4ward 2 NBA 2K9 & Bioshock 4 the PS3. Take-Two has some good-decent games & i will continue 2 support them as long as they don't sell out 2 EA or any1 else who sucks @ making quality games.

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