GTA IV sells 926,000 units first week in UK

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 6th 2008 at 7:00PM }

Although we're going to have to wait until next month's NPD report for the US info, Chart-Track revealed that GTA IV sold 926,000 copies during its first week on sale in the UK. Gi.biz reports this means GTA IV has broken the "all format" record, while the "individual format" record still belongs to GTA: San Andreas with 677,000 units sold its first week on the PS2.

We previously had Chart-Track's estimates on GTA IV's first-day sales, but the official tally was 631,000 units. During the first week, 514,000 copies were sold for Xbox 360, while 413,000 sold for PS3 -- a 55/45 split. We really wish Take-Two would just give the global figure already.

Update: Yes, we know the math doesn't work (514k + 413k ≠ 926k), so we're guessing Chart-Track rounded up somewhere and rounded down somewhere else.

Tags: chart-track, grand-theft-auto, grand-theft-auto-4, grand-theft-auto-iv, gta-iv, gtaiv, uk

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Maverick Saturn @ May 6th 2008 7:06PM

Not bad both ways, shocking number of PS3 versions sold :O Well done PS3 despite the disadvantage.

Well done GTA4, we love it.

Well done Rockstar and T2 for hard work and dedication, let this be a lesson to all other half hearted developers out there.

Curtis the Claw:XBL - supapaypamawio @ May 6th 2008 7:06PM

That is mind boggling.

Hyams @ May 6th 2008 7:09PM

Impressive. And I don't think there's anything here for fanboys to squabble over: 360 claims greater units sold, PS3 claims the better tie ratio. Everyone wins (especially Rockstar).

colinbell @ May 6th 2008 7:16PM

I wonder how much broadly similar sandbox titles like Saint's Row or Crackdown would cost - 10 or 20 million maybe verus GTA's 100 million? Though obviously these are not as close to GTA in terms of quality, but Mafia 2 and Mercs 2 would be interesting.

FrankTheCrank @ May 6th 2008 7:18PM

360, uh oh....

Time to unveil XBOX 3, XXX or 720....whatever the hell marketing decides to call the next Microsoft cash box...

Microsoft you guys need to conference in Europe and Japan...things aren't going that well overseas.

I kid...I kid.

brandon_r87 @ May 6th 2008 7:27PM

Too bad your trolling was transparent, and even worse, not funny. Even though PS3 put up a huge fight in Europe over a single game, that doesn't mean MS is doing bad. It doesn't mean they're doing bad even if they come in 3rd place worldwide as long as the Xbox division can continue to be profitable.

Vcize @ May 6th 2008 7:29PM

Ya know, I just logged into PSN to find that Haze is still only available in the European store, and not the U.S. store. After getting GT5:P later as well recently, this really got me thinking.

Why do idiotic fanboys (see above) want their console to do so much better in foreign lands for the sake of some intangible console "war" that really has no effect on them when all that does is mean that they're the ones getting screwed over instead of the people in said foreign land?

I constantly see European 360 owners (with the 360 doing much better in the US than it is there) complaining about getting screwed over on XBL releases and all I can think is "man that really sucks".

Now, the PS3 seems to be moving in the same direction for the US. The better and better the PS3 sells in Europe compared to the US the later and later we're getting our stuff over here compared to them. The US always got stuff first...but not anymore.

Is it really worth it to you to get your stuff later and be thought of as second fiddle just for the sake of being able to make some trollish comment on an internet message board that everyone is just going to vote down and ignore anyway? If another big release hits there first on the day they get it wouldn't you rather be playing the game (or who knows, maybe even Home/XMB) yourself rather than typing out some un-witty one-liner that no one is going to care about anyway?

Don't get me wrong, this applies to European 360 fanboys who clamor on about U.S. sales just as much as it does American PS3 fanboys who clamor on about 360 sales in the US, but I just don't get why people are so excited about getting personally screwed over for the sake of some numbers floating around in cyberspace.

copa @ May 6th 2008 7:30PM

Frank, you remind me of Hillary Clinton. Losing in the number of delegates, number of states won, the popular vote... and trying to convince everyone that she's kicking Barack Obama's ass.

tmacairjordan87 @ May 6th 2008 7:48PM

So let me get this right. The 360 version sells more than the ps3 version in an area that is more favorable for ps3....and microsoft should be worried?

Curtis the Claw:XBL - supapaypamawio @ May 6th 2008 8:07PM

There should be a word or character limit on posts.

Nomi @ May 6th 2008 8:19PM

All he really needed to do was to use the second paragraph and he'd get his point across.

Vcize @ May 6th 2008 8:41PM

Maybe for a normal person, but I was responding to Frank and based on his post history I figured I'd better explain it several times to make sure he could keep up ;)

j.howlett @ May 6th 2008 8:42PM

you could just make a european account and stop feeling envious and left out

Slayer @ May 6th 2008 8:59PM

Why don't you just change your name to FrankTheDouche already?

Anthony @ May 7th 2008 12:25AM

Poor guys. Can only read 2 paragraphs before they start getting tired.

FrankTheCrank @ May 7th 2008 9:24AM

Wow, you guys a bit touchy about what I said?

Geeez...you wear panties as well?

voodoo_craig @ May 6th 2008 7:20PM

The sales would be higher if they had more stock, I haven't seen it in a shop here in the UK since Friday.

daddycool @ May 6th 2008 7:36PM

True. It was "pre-order only" everywhere I went. I broke down and ordered from Amazon.

I wonder if they are counting the PS3 with the GTA pack-in. I know alot of people were getting that.

HighFiveJesus @ May 6th 2008 7:28PM

and if vg charts is to be believed, it sold about 60/40 in the states too. So sony did really well everywhere, despite the far less units.

Anticrawl @ May 6th 2008 7:29PM

What's the current population in the UK, you know just so I can gauge how impressive a feat it is (though honestly I realize how tiny it is in comparison with other countries and is impressive regardless).

voodoo_craig @ May 6th 2008 7:50PM

Just over 60 million.

playwhutyalike @ May 6th 2008 7:30PM

NPD's numbers for North America: A F'n Shit-Ton.

Zoot Suit Jedi @ May 6th 2008 8:42PM

Much heavier than a metric ton. (Just wanted to clear that up before someone became confused by your utilization of the F'n Shit unit system of weight.)

Lone Starr @ May 6th 2008 7:51PM

What makes this particularly impressive is how well it sold given the lower adoption rate of next-gen consoles (compared to San Andreas which was released later in the previous gen's life cycle). I think it would be a safe bet to say we will see Vice City and San Andreas equivalents this gen too, and that more records will be broken.

Good job Rockstar.

JetPogi @ May 6th 2008 7:57PM

no doubt about it a new San Andreas complete with a makeover since it's been well over a decade assuming the next "San Andreas" is set in 20XX

Zoot Suit Jedi @ May 6th 2008 7:59PM

Damn, I type too slowly; but my point exactly.

Zoot Suit Jedi @ May 6th 2008 7:58PM

By the time San Andreas came out, they were giving PS2s away with bottled water. Once we see a price drop on these consoles and the install base is larger, the next installment of GTA should dry hump San Andreas into an uncomfortable weeping heap on the floor.

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ May 6th 2008 8:17PM

Giving PS2s away with bottled water...

You have any idea what you're talking about? Or did you just want to use a cute little phrase?

Zoot Suit Jedi @ May 6th 2008 8:38PM

I'm sorry my hyperbole was lost on you. Let me clear it up for you...

Comparatively speaking, the PS2, at the time of release, was much less expensive than the current consoles that support GTA IV (sorry Wii.) One might even go so far as to exaggerate this price discrepancy as to say that the PS2 might as well have been free. This is what I have done. Literally speaking the console was probably 129.00 USD. Figuratively, the console was a free prize with any purchase of your choice of spring water.

Again, sorry for the confusion,

-Management

Jettic @ May 7th 2008 12:21AM

Pwnt.

OTAM @ May 6th 2008 9:06PM

Remember; PS3 is just a blu-ray player and nobody owns one.

Jettic @ May 7th 2008 3:16PM

Thank you for that bit of sarcasm, I guess no one got it ..

Insomnious @ May 6th 2008 9:09PM

Bit of topic, but when I chanced it and went to GAME to pick it up without pre-order, managed to pick it up no problem after asking one of the employees there.

When I got to the counter, was told I could only buy it if I bought the guide with it, for another £15.

Fucking scamming bastards. If it was any other game, they could stick their guides. (And this was the company, when I took back a duplicate, brand new copy of Halo 3 to trade in, offered me £6 trade-in for it. £6!!)

CynicalStrike @ May 6th 2008 11:54PM

There's a lesson there; don't shop at GAME. Every GAME store in the country is staffed by pricks who know nothing about games, and will rip you off at any opportunity. Among other gripes, the returns policy on pre-owned games is a joke; you can't return it if you break the seal they put on the box, so if the disc is scratched when you bought it you're fucked. Anyway (rant over), you didn't actually buy the game with the guide did you?

daniel @ May 7th 2008 4:24AM

i went in to game to get it on thuursday id already tried quite a few shops so i was kinda desperate, they had it and they didnt try and force me to buy anything else, they gave me the preorder bonus as well, the 500 ms points and free gamerpics, although i dont know how game get away with selling games for £45 when supermarkets can sell them for £35-£40

Insomnious @ May 7th 2008 8:57AM

To be honest I was so pleased at managing to find a copy without pre-order I took it. I did try to pre-order at Gamestation but was told that they would have plenty left on Tuesday and weren't taking any more pre-orders, then it just-so-happens they sell out first thing Tuesday morning before I get away from work.

The girl behind the counter in Game did genuinely look pretty uncomfortable when she told me and I looked at her with disgust, but I took it anyway. The guide is actually pretty good, but on retrospect I wished I'd punched the guy who told me there were copies available, but failed to mention I'd have to buy the guide, then waited most of my lunch break in a queue.