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Take-Two moving fiscal year-end to March

Tom Magrino
By Tom Magrino

GTA publisher changes earnings report schedule to better align behind industry seasonality, improve comparability with peers.

Take-Two still won't be following the calendar year to report its yearly earnings, but it will at least be moving more in line with other gaming companies. This week, the publisher announced that its board of directors had approved a fiscal year-end change from October 31 to March 31, meaning its fourth quarter will close on the same day as companies such as Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Nintendo, and Sony.

Red Dead Redemption is just one title that has elevated Take-Two this year.

Red Dead Redemption is just one title that has elevated Take-Two this year.

According to Take-Two, the change is meant to better align its fiscal periods with the seasonality of the gaming business, which traditionally sees the most activity during the October-December quarter. Take-Two also expressed an interest in improving its "comparability with industry peers."

Take-Two's desire to go apples-to-apples with its competitors is understandable, considering the string of positive earnings reports this year. Thanks to a standout performance from Red Dead Redemption, Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick touted in September that the company was on track to achieve its first profitable year without the release of a major new Grand Theft Auto in almost a decade.

The profitability comes despite the delay of two high-profile titles, L.A. Noire and Max Payne 3. Originally announced by Team Bondi in 2005, L.A. Noire is now expected to see release sometime in the first half of calendar 2011. Rockstar Vancouver's Max Payne 3 had previously been expected to ship later this year. Take-Two now expects the game to launch outside of its in-progress fiscal year.

Of course, the publisher also continues to benefit from Rockstar's notorious open-world action adventure. In June, Take-Two said that GTAIV had sold 17 million units since its then-record-setting launch in April 2009.

Tom Magrino
By Tom Magrino

Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.

25 comments
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snow_yellow
snow_yellow

they are f.. killing the PC gaming. I would not be surprised if Max Payne - an originally PC title would be ps3 and shtbox exclusive.

aaronfhff123
aaronfhff123

Next Gta needs more guns, gore, holes in peoples faces(like Red dead), guns and car custimization. We also need a more psychotic character to play as like Tommy V or Claude. Gta is the only fun game out there.

Ghost786
Ghost786

[This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

Slim-Jim2011
Slim-Jim2011

I hope Rockstar puts in the garages to customize the cars, thats was the only thing I didn't like in GTA 4. And add more clothes too the ones in single player for Niko sucked ass

Sorkvir
Sorkvir

Rock Star can keep there junk on the console

LondonGamer986
LondonGamer986

Rockstar, I am still waiting on something official from you regarding the next GTA game. Also, bring RDR to PC.

Devilish102
Devilish102

Rockstar better bring Red Dead Redemption to pc.

ganesh69
ganesh69

well ok rockstar y dont u release RDR with all those dlcs for 40$ or 60$ on the pc :D Am one in million pc gamers who are ready to buy that :P :P

Kungfu_Kenobi
Kungfu_Kenobi

>"the company was on track to achieve its first profitable year without the release of a major new Grand Theft Auto" >Implying RDR isn't essentially GTA in the old west.

Pete5506
Pete5506

I want to see RDR on the PC

BlackBaldwin
BlackBaldwin

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Crashbox45
Crashbox45

Found a typo. It's April 2008 not 2009.

Sorkvir
Sorkvir

No the PC dont need more console junk

Oracleas
Oracleas

oh well, if they're doing so well, maybe we'll get the next (or current) RDR for pc (their original development platform)

metalkid9
metalkid9

@Sukharevskaya, Bioshock is made by 2K, which is owned by Take-two interactive. Same with R* games

Sukharevskaya
Sukharevskaya

what's this got to do with Bioshock Infinite? Move up the release date already!

GamerLegend10
GamerLegend10

RDR is brilliant and the undead nightmare pack looks like an interesting twist to the game which i expect will sell well. i want another GTA game, i hope they are readying the next installment.

kennythomas26
kennythomas26

I'm just happy that their is release date for Max payne 3, I think I seen it to be realeased in august

nocoolnamejim
nocoolnamejim moderator moderator

An interesting change. I'd be curious to see a bit more detail on how this will make their finacials look for the two years involved in the short term. At a macro level, nothing wrong with this decision. On a micro level, I wonder if they're trying to smooth out their revenue for the two years in question a bit. Gaming companies have notorious spikes/dips based on game release dates and it wouldn't surprise me if an unstated OTHER reason for making this switch is to try and even things out a bit. Don't know for a fact, but it wouldn't shock me.

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