Slowing GTA IV sales could complicate Take-Two/EA negotiations

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 12th 2008 at 9:30AM }

A story by Dow Jones speculates that the slowing sales of GTA IV may hurt Take-Two's chances of getting a good buyout deal from EA. The two companies are currently in behind-closed-doors negotiations following several months of failed hostile takeover bids by EA for the GTA publisher.

GTA IV came out of the gate strong when it premiered in April, earning $500 million in its first week and going on to sell 8.5 million units so far. However, August NPD data shows the game has slipped to the 46th best-selling game spot for the month, which is another notch down the ladder from its 45th place in July.

[Via GI.biz]

Tags: ea, gta-iv, take-two

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Metal_Gear @ Sep 12th 2008 9:47AM

Every sod has the game, of course sales are going to slow down, and they will continue to slow down more until we can be conviced we need 2 copies of GTA4. If anyone hasn't bought it yet, they will either not want it or will wait until it is on Platinum or find a second hand copy.
Lets not forget the PC version too, that should drum up a few extra sales/torrents... >_>

Immortal Technique PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Sep 12th 2008 1:37PM

Maybe the episodic content as well ...

I think R* also has Midnight Club LA Remix coming out soon ...

Metal_Gear @ Sep 12th 2008 1:45PM

Yes, the DLC for the 360 will see their sales pick up a little bit. And if they aren't stupid, they will copy and paste the Achievements over into Trophies and see their sales pick up a little there too from the Trophy collectors/obsessives.

Ihavepants @ Sep 12th 2008 9:49AM

I know I'll be buying it as soon as it comes out for PC.

Startlingline117 @ Sep 12th 2008 9:53AM

Does anyone else notice anything weird here? Is EA really complaining that sales are finally slowing from a game that released in April..... selling $500 million in the first month then 8.5 million copies to date? This is a game (I wasn't crazy about, but enjoyed) but numerous previous sales records, and they are complaining??

Ihavepants @ Sep 12th 2008 10:42AM

Uh Take2 is Rockstar's publisher, EA want to buy Take2 and they were in minor financial difficulties before the release of Grand Theft Auto IV, they however refused to sell out to EA. The article is about the sales dying down and what might happen now with the take over attempt.

Actually wait did you even read the article?

BananaBoat @ Sep 12th 2008 9:59AM

I doubt the slowing sales surprised anyone. Noone just accidentally buys a game like Grand Theft Auto 4. The sales will pick back up closer to the holiday season, and the DLC content will bring in even more sales. For now though, everyone that wanted the game, and could afford the game, has the game.

I really hope they don't get bought out. The last thing we need is a ton of advertisements in the next GTA DLC, or in the next GTA.

shamowfski @ Sep 12th 2008 10:21AM

Probably because everyone already has it?

Dr. Stabbingworth @ Sep 12th 2008 10:38AM

And gamestop is loaded with cheaper, used copies.

required @ Sep 12th 2008 11:21AM

I wouldn't call gamestops used games cheaper.

tifosiotaku @ Sep 12th 2008 10:22AM

Thank Jebus. If this complicates sales, that's great. EA can keep their hands off of Midnight Club, thanks...

kelder @ Sep 12th 2008 10:22AM

It will be out on pc soon which should help with the sales.Normally the gta's do well on the pc even though we get them 6 months to a year later

copa @ Sep 12th 2008 10:25AM

I'm not buying this. The US market is nearly saturated on this game (although it should get another bump this holidays, especially if DLC is released).

But globally this is still the top-selling game every month. The idea that GTA4 is underperforming in sales is laughable.

Bleu @ Sep 12th 2008 10:33AM

When will EA leave this alone and move on already. Jeeze how many times can a company say no.

Immortal Technique PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Sep 12th 2008 1:40PM

EA: NO means YES
T2: No means NO ... NO means MAYBE ... NO means YES

devian @ Sep 12th 2008 10:33AM

Ugh.

EA is becoming Uwe Boll. Grabbing good IPs and taking a HUGE shit on them.

Ihavepants @ Sep 12th 2008 10:43AM

Becoming?

devian @ Sep 12th 2008 10:45AM

As opposed to their usual "customer" shitting.

RC @ Sep 12th 2008 10:42AM

The games business is alot like the Movie business these days. Blockbusters have massive first couple weeks, then drop off the map. That's just the way of things. There will of course be another bump for GTAIV and for MGSIV at the holidays.

dark_inchworm @ Sep 12th 2008 10:47AM

Consistently Crappy EA DRM Schemes and Tech Support Could Complicate Take-Two's Willingness To Obey

Mr Khan @ Sep 12th 2008 11:22AM

We all knew it would happen, when EA made that desperate push to try to seal a deal back in March

Immortal Technique PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Sep 12th 2008 1:38PM

I hope it doesn't happen because at that point we can say goodbye to NBA 2k & NHl 2K ... I hate EA Sports

why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 12th 2008 11:38AM

I doubt EA or Take Two are surprised by the sales of GTA IV right now. What we have here is another numbnuts analyst piping up.

GTA IV is the biggest selling GTA game yet so far, which I'm sure both expected. And like every other game, once the initial sales are over, the new sales mostly come from people who buy new consoles. There's no reason to think either of them are unfamiliar with the pattern.

eminemd12obie @ Sep 12th 2008 12:53PM

sales should rise when the DLC is released (not back to number one or anything but still top 20-30)

malisp @ Sep 12th 2008 8:59PM

The article is just speculation by one person, Ben Charney, at Dow Jones. Read it, it's completely devoid of any actual information (such as expectation of sales, expert analysis, or anyone even remotely agreeing with his opinion). You might as well ask my grandmother what she thinks about GTA IV and write a story about that.