GTA IV is gold and 'en route' to stores

by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 18th 2008 at 1:00PM }

Grand Theft Auto IV has gone gold and is "en route" to stores, which means any fears of an eleventh hour delay for the game can be squashed like a snitch's head in a vice. Take-Two's CEO, Ben Feder, stated during the shareholder's meeting last night that the game is in production and should arrive at retailers soon.

GTA IV, expected to have a massive launch on Xbox 360 and PS3, won't be available to purchase until April 29. So, if you've got a friend working in retail who's got access to the stock room -- now's the time to tell them how much you love them!

Tags: ben-feder, feder, grand-theft-auto-iv, grandtheftauto, grandtheftautoiv, gta-iv, gtaiv, gtaivdelay

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

deaftly @ Apr 18th 2008 1:11PM

I wish big games like this would release on a Friday or Saturday, I know all be up all night playing this and will probably call out the next day :(

WiiSports Machine...Fernandos in disguise PSN: Killjebus @ Apr 18th 2008 1:27PM

Yes deaftly, this releasing of BIG titles on tuesdays is rediculous. FRIDAY or thursday would make much more sense.

I asked publishers on many occasions why they release BIG games on tuesdays and I never got a straight answer.

Benny @ Apr 18th 2008 1:48PM

In the UK we do normally get all our games on a Friday. The only reason this one is Tuesday is to keep in tow with the 'simultaneous worldwide release date'. Better sooner than later though, eh?

dsub @ Apr 18th 2008 1:50PM

I think Nintendo's got it right. All their big games release on Sundays, which means you can go get the game on Saturday at Midnight and play all day Sunday.

Baby @ Apr 18th 2008 1:57PM

well...why don't you guys just buy the game on friday then?

rv @ Apr 18th 2008 2:55PM

Look at it this way. Instead of releasing on friday, it is being released 3 days earlier. You have friday on the weekend.

ViagraFiend @ Apr 18th 2008 3:39PM

@ ViagraFiend

Imma killa bitch for early GTAIV.

Waffle Slayer @ Apr 18th 2008 3:40PM

That's why you get a decent enough job where you can use vacation or personal time and get paid not to be at work while playing GTA IV.

Brian @ Apr 18th 2008 1:12PM

Expect some leakages among retailers...

nerrrrrrd @ Apr 18th 2008 1:16PM

Cheese is a kind of meat...

Brian @ Apr 18th 2008 1:18PM

@nerrrrrrd:

What?

Benny @ Apr 18th 2008 1:23PM

The Mighty Boosh, Brian, THE MIGHTY BOOSH!

copa @ Apr 18th 2008 1:27PM

Hell, when this game comes out, expect some leakages among consumers.

Gaucho @ Apr 18th 2008 1:33PM

I wish I had a friend at some retail store. I'd be willing to do unspeakable things for an early copy of this. . . my parents would disown me and my GF would castrate me, but if I succeeded I would consider it a win. . . wasn't going to be using the damn thing too much anyways.

nerrrrrrd @ Apr 18th 2008 1:33PM

Brian you need to change your avatar if you don't know that it's a tasty yellow beef. I milk it from my teet, but I try to be discreet :)

dsub @ Apr 18th 2008 1:51PM

Agreed. We already have Mario Kart at the Gamestop I work at. I expect GTAIV to show up no later than Wednesday. I'd start heading to Toys R' Us around that time.

Ignatius @ Apr 18th 2008 2:09PM

The policy for games where I work is if we receive them before the release date, we can put them out.

Carl Abrams @ Apr 18th 2008 3:30PM

Ignatius -

I haven't seen yet (It's not in OUR back room yet, but I'll look this weekend) if this is a hard street date or not. If it IS a hard street date, then no one should have it out (except Target and Toys R Us, because they're morons). Retailers that break street date can (and are) fined up to $10,000 PER occurance. So if you sell 5 copies of the game early, your corporate could be fined $50,000. That's one reason why TRU and Target tend to have lousy luck with Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo reps - they're always breaking street date, and it comes directly from their advertising budgets when they do.

LaughingTarget @ Apr 18th 2008 3:40PM

I'll be sure to check K-Mart tomorrow, they'll probably leak it like they did with Mass Effect and Uncharted.

Donald @ Apr 18th 2008 1:12PM

If a delivery truck gets jacked on the way, does RockStar win at irony?

nerrrrrrd @ Apr 18th 2008 1:15PM

oooooooooooh I can't wait!!!

Delgado @ Apr 18th 2008 1:15PM

Sadly, I still don't think I'm going to get it (I mean immediately upon release). With the 360, I just have way too many games I still haven't finished, as gaming is a hobby and I only get to play a few hours a week.

I still haven't finished Mass Effect, Bioshock, PGR4, and more, and I'm not sure there is room for a 100 hour game in my rotation :'(

NATO_Duke @ Apr 18th 2008 1:21PM

I have a backlog too, but I think its worth grabbing early for when others on Live want to play some MP online. So even if I don't get into the SP right away, it will be worth having for when the online urge hits.

Markez @ Apr 18th 2008 1:23PM

Oh, same case here. Have some unfinished business as well; The Darkness (almost done), Crackdown, Halo 3, Mario Galaxy, Zack & Wiki, Phantom Hourglass, blah I'm sure I'm missing some.

That said, I'm sure I'll still likely pick it up right after release.

Vcize @ Apr 18th 2008 2:15PM

Same here, big backlog (and now Gamestop releases a 25% off used 360 games coupon on top of that) as well, with several unopened games still sitting on my shelf.

That said, GTA4 is worth throwing those aside for even longer and injecting GTA4 into the rotation immediately. I've already waited on the other games, may as well wait a little longer.

Zoot Suit Jedi @ Apr 18th 2008 1:16PM

The wait for this game is giving me butterflies in my stomach.

ComicShaman @ Apr 18th 2008 1:22PM

I'm not sure why Joystiq continues to report on obscure games like this. Why don't they focus on the real blockbusters, like the long-awaited sequel to Mr. Mosquito*? There's a game that people want to hear about!

[/irony]

Seriously, I wonder if Hollywood is preparing to blame this game if they have a bad week or two at the box office? This game will sell like crazy.

*I don't really think anyone is making this sequel.

nerrrrrrd @ Apr 18th 2008 1:45PM

They have the blame game all ready to go when Ironman doesn't make as much cash as they want.

Obie @ Apr 18th 2008 1:23PM

This will be my first GTA game, and I can't wait!

Danny @ Apr 18th 2008 1:25PM

I can feel its essence coming towards my house!

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Apr 18th 2008 1:27PM

yea i just caught this story over on PS3Fanboy and i am super excited. if its shipping already, then that means retailers will be getting it and keeping it in storage more than likely. so there is a possibility that some associate that hates his/her job will not mind breaking the street date. i think im goin huntin for it in the middle of next week. i can always move my preorder to something else.

Brian @ Apr 18th 2008 1:30PM

@Benny: Oh right...

CharleyTony @ Apr 18th 2008 1:39PM

I still have lost odyssey, burnout paradise and Rainbow 6 Vegas2 to complete.
I think Ill get GTA4 in a month or 2...
Its not like they wont make any more...
Look at what happened with COD4, people who waited a little get the map pack for free, thats just like a price drop...

Vcize @ Apr 18th 2008 2:18PM

"Look at what happened with COD4, people who waited a little get the map pack for free, thats just like a price drop..."

Uh, not really. CoD4 has been hitting the $39.99 price mark at many places for months now. Even if you add the $10 for the new maps that still comes out to 10 bucks cheaper than the GotY edition, which is $59.99 everywhere.