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Rockstar sells 6 million GTA IV units in 5 days / $400 million revenue - News

by VGChartz Staff , posted on 06 May 2008 / 4,803 Views

Rockstar sells 6 million units of GTA IV in 5 days

(by Louie July)

 

VG Chartz.com, the most comprehensive videogaming charts in the world, has announced that Rockstar sold roughly 6 million copies of Grand Theft Auto IV during the first 5 days after the game’s release. 4 million gamers purchased the game day one.


The game generated an estimated revenue of $390 million, exceeding Halo 3´s $280 million launch week. Worldwide sales split 4:3 in favour of the Xbox 360 while the Playstation 3 version saw a higher attach rate.

Image: GTA IV first week sales (numbers in millions)

 

America saw sales of more than 3.7 million units during the first week of the game’s release. Europe experienced strong sales, as well – roughly 2.2 million Europeans purchased the game during the same timeframe. (1.25 million on Playstation 3; 0.95 million on Xbox 360)

Grand Theft Auto IV also had a big affect on hardware sales: Playstation 3 sales nearly doubled compared to the week before, while Xbox 360 sales jumped roughly 70%.

Grand Theft Auto IV is considered the most expensive game of all time, with estimated development costs of $100 million. The game is likely to hit the 10 million units sales mark during the next months.

Questions regarding VGchartz or our articles? Contact me: Louie.july@gmx.de

Update: Rockstar today confirmed that 6 million copies were sold in the first 5 days but posted a total revenue figure of $500 million rather than our $390. In hindsight, the game sells for closer to $100 in Europe (when taking the exchange rate into account) and $60 in America with the collectors edition being around half again so our initial per game cost of $65 was pessimistic and total revenue will be more like the $500 million Rockstar reported.


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87 Comments
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stevoe (on 10 May 2008)

surprised xbox 360 outsold ps3. i have been using the massive list of grand theft auto 4 cheats at http://www.squidoo.com/grandtheftauto4cheats

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mztazmz (on 10 May 2008)

RAZurrection is a complete MORON. I suggest none of you waste your time with him. He apparently loves the 360 more than life itself and is in no position to admit that his steaming shit pile of a console is going to finish third place.

The end of this generation is gonna be harder for him than the 2nd grade was. Let's try to be understanding and let him live his dillussional fantasy for a couple more years.

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Onimusha12 (on 09 May 2008)

Revenue =/= profit unfortunately. I would be interested to see what profit they actually took from the game (this of course taking into account the ridiculous price tag to make it).

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onebadace (on 08 May 2008)

Doesn't look like that at the moment. I see most people getting their GTAIV fix on Xbox 360.

At the moment has nothing to do with it. GTA has been considered a Sony/Playstation platform for quite awhile.

I don't think it would run at a lower resolution, with no AA and an inferior framerate to the 360 version if it were.

Actually it has AA as opposed to the 360s lack of AA, downloads straight to the harddrive for less loading times, as less pop-in and runs at high definition... I'm starting to think you don't know what you're talking about.

360 dlc is new suburbs, missions, soundtrack and maybe even a new era. It's 100% exclusive, not even PC.

DLC has yet to be confirmed of what it is, so once again, you're making things up as you go. And Sony gets the same DLC content at a much later date, whatever it may be.

Take 2 won't let them, nor is there anything Sony could offer to do so. This is the biggest GTA ever, that's mainly due to the 360...especially since GTA is seen as an Xbox franchise and always will be.

Take 2 will let them. "especially since it's seen as an Xbox franchise." Says who? You? >.<

PS3 dlc is some skins and a map pack for multi-player, which the

Wrong. Once again, it will be the same as Microsoft, whenever R* reveals what it is that's being released. So once again, you make up false information.

And Microsoft didn't pay $50 million for the DLC, it's a loan to develop 2x games of a $25 million budget as dlc, Rockstar has to pay it back deducted from the income of the dlc sales.

Uhm, no. They paid $50 million for a clause contract which will give them direct DLC content before Sony. Another false move by your part.

Xbox is the home of GTA, it's the priority. It's the reason why the PS3 isn't getting any dlc.

Said by a true fanboy, who after reading all of this, I can tell doesn't have the first clue about what's going on. Making up false answers doesn't make you any better. The fact is, GTA has always been a Sony franchise, and with the released of the newer ones in a couple of years, they will be Sony exclusive. Sorry, but it's true.

Truth, you'd just need to wait a while. I figure the Substance version will be out by mid-2009, so expect the announcement Xmas-Feb for both consoles.

There was the same rumor for Metal Gear Solid 3... oh wait, that never happened. And for MGS4, Sony has exclusive rights as a first party producer and the director/creator saying it won't come out on 360. Once again, you're wrong. And you have no information to back yourself up except your own lies.

Oh look...

http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/091/091082p1.html

Fool me twice....

Oh yes, an article from 2001 of a port of MGS1 possibly going to Xbox which was confirmed false. Wow, I'm willing to bet you just googled MGS Xbox to see what sources would pop-up, because yet again, you know nothing about what we're talking about. Haha. Fail.

"Final Fantasy as well, is a PS3 exclusive title"

PS3 is the top seller in Japan, so it doesn't make sense that a title of that caliber would "fail" in Japan. Also, Square Enix is another first party producer, making FF titles for the PSP as well. The FF brand is still and will always be a Sony exclusive title. Sigh, don't you do your homework?

From what i've seen you think the PS3 is going to approach 'Wii levels' in the US based on the release of a God of War sequel and a handful of other titles that performed less well, a franchise that per title would be well below the average Tom Clancy game.

All i'm saying is that a couple of PS3 exclusives are going multi, something which has happened time and time again.

And yet the titles you say are going multi-platform aren't. And you figured you could slip by and make yourself look knowledgable, but then I come along and call you out on it. What do you do? You make up stuff. And lie. And the only information you had was a link to ign all the way back in 2001. Sad.

Like I said:

"I just think fanboys like yourself should get your facts straight before trying to portray yourself as knowledgeable about them on a forum"

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RAZurrection (on 08 May 2008)

"RAZurrection, you do know that the GTA franchise has always been considered a Sony franchise not a Microsoft franchise?"

Doesn't look like that at the moment. I see most people getting their GTAIV fix on Xbox 360.

"Also, interviews with Dan Houser have shown that it was easier to design and program on the PS3"

I don't think it would run at a lower resolution, with no AA and an inferior framerate to the 360 version if it were.

"But wait. Sony also got DLC as well, but will not receive it until a later date. $50 million saved."

360 dlc is new suburbs, missions, soundtrack and maybe even a new era. It's 100% exclusive, not even PC.

"get this now... that GTA will become a Sony exclusive from here on out."

Take 2 won't let them, nor is there anything Sony could offer to do so. This is the biggest GTA ever, that's mainly due to the 360...especially since GTA is seen as an Xbox franchise and always will be.

PS3 dlc is some skins and a map pack for multi-player, which the

And Microsoft didn't pay $50 million for the DLC, it's a loan to develop 2x games of a $25 million budget as dlc, Rockstar has to pay it back deducted from the income of the dlc sales.

"Of course, I doubt the GTA on PS3 exclusivity will be full on. "

Probably because it's not real.

"I'm sure that 360 owners will receive the game a year after or something of that nature, but I just thought I'd share."

Xbox is the home of GTA, it's the priority. It's the reason why the PS3 isn't getting any dlc.


"And then you mention MGS4 as going to 360. False."

Truth, you'd just need to wait a while. I figure the Substance version will be out by mid-2009, so expect the announcement Xmas-Feb for both consoles.

Why? Because Sony couldn't pay for it and Konami - bless em - hasn't shown much else this generation, MGS4 needs to be pushed to everyone as much as possible and 360 will be a nice untapped 30 million at that time.

"MGS4 has been confirmed a Sony exclusive for the system by the game creator himself, so I doubt it will slip into the Microsoft camp."

Doubt away, business is business. A technicality if you will. Kojima is being truthful, MGS4: Guns of the Patriots isn't coming to Xbox 360, MGS4:Sub***** is though.

Oh look...

http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/091/091082p1.html

Fool me twice....

"Final Fantasy as well, is a PS3 exclusive title"

Was.

Square Enix gave Sony their chance to turn things around in Japan and they failed. To maximise their investment PS3 Exclusive = Big no, no. They're looking to other sources. Normally in this case, they'd cut and run to the market leader, which is Wii...but Wii couldn't pull off the visuals so its not doable, that leaves PC and 360...and if you're making a PC port, you sure as hell are making an Xbox 360 port too.

At the end of the days it's all business and Square Enix recognizes they stand to make more money by bringing it to 360 then they might in the vain hope that FFXIII will turn things around for the PS3 in Japan, same thing as Last Remnent and Infinite Undiscovery, SE realizes PS3 alone doesn't help them in the slightest, they need to branch out.

It's already a done-deal btw, has been since late last year. Expect the announcement at either E3 or TGS this year for a simultaneous release.

"From what I can see, you're just an Xbox 360 fanboy with a limitless imagination"

From what i've seen you think the PS3 is going to approach 'Wii levels' in the US based on the release of a God of War sequel and a handful of other titles that performed less well, a franchise that per title would be well below the average Tom Clancy game.

All i'm saying is that a couple of PS3 exclusives are going multi, something which has happened time and time again.

"I just think fanboys like yourself should get your facts straight before trying to portray yourself as knowledgeable about them on a forum"

All I have said is fact, you just cannot accept them.

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onebadace (on 08 May 2008)

RAZurrection, you do know that the GTA franchise has always been considered a Sony franchise not a Microsoft franchise? Development for the series has always been on the Playstation 2 first, and then the releases of GTA:LCS and GTA:VCS were directly created for PSP, and then ported over to PS2 exclusively.

The co-release of GTAIV on the 360 is the first sign that Microsoft has had GTA released on day one, and they also have exclusive rights to DLC...

But wait. Sony also got DLC as well, but will not receive it until a later date. $50 million saved.

Also, interviews with Dan Houser have shown that it was easier to design and program on the PS3 and that, get this now... that GTA will become a Sony exclusive from here on out. Don't believe me? One word. Google. The 360 will receive the DLC a bit earlier and then suddenly, the PS3 will have exclusive rights.

Of course, I doubt the GTA on PS3 exclusivity will be full on. I'm sure that 360 owners will receive the game a year after or something of that nature, but I just thought I'd share.

And then you mention MGS4 as going to 360. False. Sub-version? Are you making things up for the sake of your "argument"? MGS4 has been confirmed a Sony exclusive for the system by the game creator himself, so I doubt it will slip into the Microsoft camp.

Final Fantasy as well, is a PS3 exclusive title, so I really don't know where you're getting these "facts" from, or if you're just making them up. From what I can see, you're just an Xbox 360 fanboy with a limitless imagination. Good for you.

Anyways, I'm not saying the 360 is a bad console, because it isn't by any means. I just think fanboys like yourself should get your facts straight before trying to portray yourself as knowledgeable about them on a forum. Get it?

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RAZurrection (on 08 May 2008)

Easy.

They announce it before they come out.

"San Andreas is still selling on the PS2 and you have the audacity to say that "the franchise has finally come home?"

GTA has always been seen as an Xbox franchise and now it always will be.

"And suddenly the people you're arguing with are disillusion?"

It's not delusional to venture that 2 exclusives are going multiplatform. MGS4 has been rumored for ages (for good reason, X-heads will have to wait for the Sub- version next year, but its coming...assuredly so its coming) FFXIII...well I take some liberties, I do know that a japanese developed PS3 exclusive is now going multi, I know it's not MGS4 and I know it's 'huge'. Since the PS3 doesn't have many games of that description left, there's really only one choice as Tekken 6 is hardly huge.

He's suggesting that PS3 is going to stage some sort of Wii-style level of sales in the US with no basis.

Which has happened before? PS3 exclusives ported to 360 or PS3 demonstrating a Wii-level of sales.

Not on its best month.

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Salamursu (on 08 May 2008)

@RAZ
"The people who buy a console for MGS4 and FFXIII are buying a 360, because I know something you dont."

how can people buy a console for those games if nobody knows what you know?

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reptile168 (on 08 May 2008)

@ Krakn3Dfx

Saying that 360 only has gears of wars is like saying PS3 only has GT5, MGS4 and FF13. Every other good PS3 games are not one of those 3 but they have potentials, just like other 360 games.

Fable 2 is a huge game, it's not a halo seller, but it'll probably surpass Oblivion.
Ninja Gaiden 2. It's definitely not a system seller, but this game will keep current 360 owner really happy.
Halo Wars. A lot of potential and it might popularize RTS in console.
Splinter Cell conviction. The game will have a new approach and it definitely has potential.
etc.

Those games can perform (in sales) just like LBP, God of War 3, Socom 10, Resistance 2, Killzone 2. Home is a free download, so it shouldn't be considered a system seller. If MS can educate gamers, people will eventually know that Home is basically Xbox Live options with Second Life clone. You need to walk from room to room to look at awards and stuffs while it's a click away from Xbox live...

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JayGee (on 07 May 2008)

San Andreas is still selling on the PS2 and you have the audacity to say that "the franchise has finally come home?" And suddenly the people you're arguing with are dillusional? But in your post I see that MGS4 and FFXIII are going multiplat, so lemme guess. Those franchises are finally coming home as well, huh? If anybody has to accept anything, it's you being totally out of your mind and off base.

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RAZurrection (on 07 May 2008)

"LOL, wow, look how close the PS3 was to the 360 in overall sales"

Yes, it's too far behind to catch up at this point, not before next gen. I don't think MS cares about that though.

"In 12 months when Home, MGS4, LBP, God of War 3, FF13 "

At least 2 of those games are going multi-platform, the other is the equivilent of a dashboard update, God of War sells about as much as the average Tom Clancy game these days. LBP looks fun, but you have not a shred of evidence to suggest it will sell systems as ..say the next Prince of Persia title.

"Sony has several titles in the pipeline that people WILL want to buy hardware for"

Really? Sony have been releasing games for the last 18 months and they don't sell nearly as well as Xbox 360 exclusives do. Not even when they're bundled.

"the people who will buy it already own a 360 for GoW1"

The people who will buy LBP, gow2 and Home already own a PS3 too.

The people who buy a console for MGS4 and FFXIII are buying a 360, because I know something you dont.

"so I think your chortling about the PS3 never surpassing the 360 in the US is purely wishful speculation"

Not for the NA market, Microsoft has far better performance in that region regarding system sellers and established ips. Besides, the Wii had to break records and its still taken 19 months to catch up to 360.

PS3 had to

1) Cut the price another $100 in less than a year, to which Microsoft has yet to react to
2) Give away BDRom, a bigger HDD, free online and Wi-fi
3) Bundle free blu-ray movies
4) Win the HD-movie war

Result = In the last 3 months PS3 outsold the 360 by 50K which was undershipped.

Total time to take over in the US = 15 years

Send me an email when PS3 starts selling like Wii in the US and we'll go from there, other wise you're better off accepting it now....it'll just be easier that way.

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Krakn3Dfx (on 07 May 2008)

@ everything Razurrection has said:

LOL, wow, look how close the PS3 was to the 360 in overall sales, and the PS3 is a year later out of the gate. In 12 months when Home, MGS4, LBP, God of War 3, FF13 and the rest of Sony's A game hit the market, the 360 is going to be a flailing mess on the floor of mediocrity, if it's not already. Other than Gears of War 2, which will be awesome, MS has little or nothing in the pipeline that will sell units, and honestly, I dunno that GoW2 will sell units, the people who will buy it already own a 360 for GoW1, so where are the hardware sales for the one big game on the horizon from MS? Sony has several titles in the pipeline that people WILL want to buy hardware for, so I think your chortling about the PS3 never surpassing the 360 in the US is purely wishful speculation.

Enjoy your illusion of fanboy dominance while it lasts though.

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hunter_alien (on 07 May 2008)

Wow ... the PS3 was actually pretty damn close :D

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reverie (on 07 May 2008)

New York Times confirms 6 million sold.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/07/technology/07game.html

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mesoteto (on 07 May 2008)

well lost my bet.....now where is he

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RAZurrection (on 07 May 2008)

"XiaoMay says:
@Razurrection : GTA has always been seen as a PS franchise and will always be, I believe"

It's not just a river in Egypt, it's sold the most on Xbox 360. The franchise has finally come home.

Finally it's over. The console war is over. Sony you damned fool, you should not have focused on movies over games. Too late now though.

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chinmoku (on 07 May 2008)

Back to the roots. Wonderful to see the GTA franchise back on the PS3.

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mastershake100 (on 07 May 2008)
  • i meant $250ish by Q1 2010

    2009 is too early

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mastershake100 (on 07 May 2008)

these are BS numbers but its pretty safe to assume ps3 got the hardware victory and 360 the software one(considering it has more systems on the market, it should be). and i think the ratio will be in favor of ps3 cus it is the franchise it is today because of playstation. nintendo didnt support them and they have friends at sony already(sony london who worked with them) so thrived on that platform.

MS paid 50 mil for 10 hours worth of DLC, houser said it would be missions like ppl walking up to you in the street asking for help, those inlcuded free in GTA:SA werent they?

and rockstar gave sony an exclusive franchise for letting them out of their GTA contract, and still gave them the superior GTA4(all credible reviews have said this) and signed on for a bundle with only sony. sony should just buy rockstar already.

also 360 will come third this generation and this is the catalyst. WW sales wii wins, next gen consoles will be ps3 > 360 by more than 10 million at least, ps3 sales will grow exponentially over the years especially after another pricedrop, when ps3 hits $250 its game over, i expect that will happen Q1 09(sony will make the power play. MS will not launch another console before that)

360 sales have slowed since competition hit the market, affecting growth, wii and ps3 will hamper 360, nintendo and sony/playstation are more popular brands plain and simple, and RROD has affected views on 360, it can only appeal if it becomes dirt cheap. but it still looks unreliable in the casual customer's view because of the hardware(even if the problem is reduced to ps3/wii levels, it will have that negative light forever like ps2, but ps2 had the advantage of being the successor to ps1 while xbox1 wasnt that successful)

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XiaoMay (on 07 May 2008)

@Razurrection : GTA has always been seen as a PS franchise and will always be, I believe

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RAZurrection (on 07 May 2008)

Nothing funny about it.

Wii and Xbox 360 are going to vastly outsell the PS3 in the US and Canada and make a lot more money.

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boycop (on 07 May 2008)

@RAZurrection
I have no clue about what you are writing about, but of your writing does not make any sense. "GTA has always been seen as an Xbox franchise" "Some things are certain though... USA/Canada: Wii>360>PS3.. Profit Wii>360>PS3 ".

Am I missing your humour or something?

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squall747 (on 07 May 2008)

MS hardware sales saw a 70% boost? Thats pretty good with some luck 360 should continue to see good hardware/software sales thanks to GTA 4. MS should be happy with these kinda results within a weeks time. Still alot more Xbox owners out their who in the comings will probably purchase GTA 4. Both MS and Sony will be pleased.

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ChichiriMuyo (on 07 May 2008)

@sgouldbourn - You're kidding, right? In the U.S. the 360 has sold much more than twice as many consoles and it couldn't quite sell twice as many copies. Granted, it'll have longer legs on the 360, but there was never ay reason to suppose that the PS3 version would have higher sales. Hell, the 360 version also has exclusive DLC, so it should be doing better than twice the sales. It's not. I'd say MS should be the ones that are unhappy, considering the 50 million they laid on the line for this game's DLC.

@SNESboy - As was said: "Yes you are the only one who thinks selling $390 million worth of games in 5 days is pathetic." Even if Halo 3 were multiconsole there is very, very little chance they'd have matched GTA4's debut sales.

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reptile168 (on 06 May 2008)

I still blame Microsoft for not being more aggressive about promoting exclusive DLC. This is supposed to be the killer reason to own GTA on 360, but they barely mentioned it. Aside from fanboys going to videogame sites, rarely do mass market player read videogames news. Their information comes from publicity/marketing (Sony's strongest asset) and word of mouth.

By the time episode contents release on the 360, ps3 fanboys would go on outrage to release episodes on the PS3 gta and due to pressure and respectable PS3 user owned gta, they probably would have no choice to release some sort of DLC for the PS3. That would eliminate the main advantage of owning 360 gta over ps3 gta.

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jheco05 (on 06 May 2008)

Ok! Hopefully Rockstar uses those GTAIV assets for the Wi.. Is it possible?

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murphjp (on 06 May 2008)

@SNESboy

Yes you are the only one who thinks selling $390 million worth of games in 5 days is pathetic.

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SnesTea (on 06 May 2008)

That's bad. It may have performed well BUT Halo 3 was an exclusive Xbox 360 title. GTA IV, a game released for TWO platforms only generated 110 Million USD extra in sales? Am I the only one that thinks that is pathetic?

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sgouldbourn (on 06 May 2008)

Wow, the 360 doubled the PS3 sales of GTA4 in the USA. Ouch Sony must not be happy about that. I thought all the loyal sonyites would stick with their format?? I guess not.

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ChichiriMuyo (on 06 May 2008)

Sorry, but despite the game selling much better on the 360 in the US it's still done a lot more to help the PS3. The PS3 was already ahead in weekly sales and got a bigger % boost than the 360. This takeover stuff you're rambling about inanely isn't a one day afair. The PS3 has been taking over for five months now and despite a lower price and better selection of games MS has done absolutely nothing to change that.

I am afraid that no matter how much people want to believe that MS's lead in America amounts to something, it doesn't. Worldwide sales are far more important to companies that make blockbusters like GTA4 because the U.S. isn't the only country with money. Add to that the fact that our tastes aren't radically different than the rest of the world and you can see why there are pretty much no games launched these days solely for the U.S. audience, and none of them are big hits. You simply cannot count out the influence Europe has, and in Europe the 360 is dying fast.

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Mummelmann (on 06 May 2008)

^Ahh, I see you got the latest version of "Microsoft official factoid sheet for itself and competition, without bias in the slightest" in the mail. Good for you. ;-)

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RAZurrection (on 06 May 2008)

"heruamon says:

I guess we're waiting on Guns to REALLY see PS3 take over...lol!"

I think it should be obvious by now that any form of PS3 'take over' is going to be a long and drawn out affair, which ultimately leaves PS3 trudging towards to 2nd place with a slim glimmer of hope that it can get a few hundred thousand more than Xbox 360 worldwide before MS launches their new box.

Some things are certain though

Japan:

Wii>PS3>360

USA/Canada:

Wii>360>PS3

Europe

Wii>PS3>360

Worldwide

Wii>360?PS3

Profit

Wii>360>PS3

Games sales

Wii>360>PS3

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murphjp (on 06 May 2008)

@Shams

I don't think GTA had a $30-50 mil marketing budget.

$20 Million is alot more realistic.

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Rath (on 06 May 2008)

Layth, you're about to get banned. Have fun.

Anyway, impressive figures but I would speculate that this will have smaller legs than previous GTA games.

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heruamon (on 06 May 2008)

@John_doe

Install base 18 million to 12 million...attach rate is nearly the same, and it's off by a few % pts well within statastical error. For a HUGE game liek this, there shouldn't be any surprise that it's nearly the same, heck, I've YET to play GTA, and it's just sitting there because I haven't gotten the time to dedicate to it...and if i start, I'll be absorbed, so I'm saving it for a weekend when I can delve into it. My point is I'm still looking for this HUGE catalyst to see PS3 overtaking everbody else that SO MANY predicted...First, when the PS3 was launched, it was suspose to blow out 360 and Wii....errrr....Wii has driven right past them and 360 is chugging along, then this past Holiday season, PS3 was suspose to take over....it came in last again....then 2008 was suspose to see PS3 take over...once again...I've yet to see the amazing takeover predicted...One of the killer apps...GT:Prologue that was okay, but nothing to rave about. I guess we're waiting on Guns to REALLY see PS3 take over...lol!

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Layth (on 06 May 2008)

RAZurrection you are truly a fucking idiot. Or a moron.

Probably both.

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RAZurrection (on 06 May 2008)

"LOL. How exactly is that? Because they sold more copies?"

Of course, it's made GTA an Xbox franchise now. The long term ratio is going to favour Xbox a lot more.

"If cheaper price and DLC for GTAIV can't reverse fortune for the 360 then what the hell will?"

A console that's only dropped $50 (and increased by $80) in the last 2.5 years has more leverage to increase sales.

"Gears won't, so it seems as the PS3 will outsell the 360 every month for the remainder of this generation. "

In the US,no. The console war is over. The PS3 is never going to catch up. World-wide, maybe. That's not really important though, the real questions are by how much and when is Xbox 3 coming out.

"Its bad that they had to pay 50million for it."

It's a loan, back when 2K were struggling for cash, Microsoft gets it back and a free extention of the biggest game of the year exclusively for their platform.

"Anyone know how much Microsoft makes per copy sold?"

$6 per copy of a third party game

  • 0
John_Doe (on 06 May 2008)

@eliasg

yeah, huge victory. 4:3 in software and bigger increase is hardware... oh, wait...

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Jandre002 (on 06 May 2008)

@eliasg.

LOL. How exactly is that? Because they sold more copies? Sure keep thinking that. If cheaper price and DLC for GTAIV can't reverse fortune for the 360 then what the hell will? Gears won't, so it seems as the PS3 will outsell the 360 every month for the remainder of this generation.

It is good for MSFT that they could get in on GTAIV's massive sales. Its bad that they had to pay 50million for it. Anyone know how much Microsoft makes per copy sold?

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anonr1 (on 06 May 2008)

@ Jagged
My grandmother loves GTA, and she finds your comments offensive.

There's plenty of room in this market for big budget and small budget games. And if we're going to compare videogames to the movie industry. Then you can see that in the movie industry, many small budget films have gone on to make plenty of money(Juno), while plenty of big budget movies have failed to earn back the money spent making them. I doubt this industry is yet capable of a "Summer Blockbuster" period, where week after week a new big budget movie is released.

Congrats to R* for an awesome game with great sales.

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eliasg (on 06 May 2008)

So an other Win for XBOX360. GTA was always a Playstation game...

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shams (on 06 May 2008)

@all: lets not forget that the $100m dev budget almost certainly does NOT include the marketing budget. This alone would be another $30m-$50m over lifetime (if not more).

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JaggedSac (on 06 May 2008)

@SaviorX

Well, there are many factors that go into a game like GTA4's budget. Decent voice talent, music rights, engine development, engine licenses, all kinds of stuff that smaller games don't have to worry about. But since the game is mostly about telling an involved story, you need all of these things to immerse you in the world. Also, the graphics for all but the most high-end and expensive systems on Crysis were merely decent at best.

The fact that Wii sales were not affected much by the launch of GTA4 furthers the point that the demographics for the systems are completely different. GTA is more for serious/older gamers while the Wii is more family oriented. You won't see too many grandmas mowing down civilians in GTA. But I know many grandparents that play the Wii. It goes to show that the Wii and the other consoles are not entirely competing with each other. The Wii dipped into a larger well of people than the other two.

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Kyros (on 06 May 2008)

[quote]6 millions already sold but only 10 millions in the next months [/quote]

That's just a prediction. On the other hand there is some upper limit for the nearterm slaes I mean there are only 30 million PS360 around. That somehow limits the sales possibilities unless some more people buy one for GTA over the next weeks.

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Spectrumglr (on 06 May 2008)

GTAIV ps3 being > than x360's in EU was quite predictible...if we count out UK, where x360 managed to gain "just" 100k over PS3, PS3 installed base in EU is greater than X360. If to this we add that GTAIV is probably for ps3's hardcore gamers just like H3 for x360's hardocore gamers the picture was predictible indeed.

next week It will be interesting to see which side (ps3 or x360) those sales were more "frontloaded"...as gta IV sales this week came for almost 80% (4.4M out of 5.6M) from UK+US i do believe that in the following weeks we'll see x360 taking more advantage. What do you think?

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Kyros (on 06 May 2008)

[quote]100 million dollars?...... WTH were they thinking?[/quote]

They were thinking that they would make much more with it? I do not get the problem with high development costs. If you want to make money you have to spend it. And it worked.

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Usdel- (on 06 May 2008)

I find it strange : 6 millions already sold but only 10 millions in the next months ?

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OT7 (on 06 May 2008)

I feel great for both HD systems and for Rockstar,I choose mine for PS3 but this game in special makes some kind of "union" between 360 and PS3,showing that a blockbuster title would sell a lot if the game is well designed(even with some bugs)and it's very fun.

When Gaming companies see this kind of sales performance,like the ones of GTA4,Call of Duty 4,Assassin's Creed,Halo3,among others ones,they surely think in continue the strong third party support for HD systems and that's really good news for every HD system owner.

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Munkeh111 (on 06 May 2008)

@ fonzorelli, the RAGE engine was originally used for table tennis, though I am sure that figure includes the massive ad campaign (though Sony and M$ must pay for some of that)

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TWRoO (on 06 May 2008)

I thought that $280 million revenue for Halo was USA only (or America only)

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Yakuzaice (on 06 May 2008)

^I believe he predicted first month sales to be 4.5-5 million.

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FilaBrasileiro (on 06 May 2008)

What was naznatips prediction?

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DragonLord (on 06 May 2008)

Holy crap! Now THAT is impressive.
For both consoles.

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Fonzerelli (on 06 May 2008)

100M$ includes the cost of developing the Rage Engine and a lot of assets that will be used by other Rockstar games.
Expect the assets of GTA IV to be used for Red Dead Revolver 2, Midnight Club L.A etc..

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libellule (on 06 May 2008)

@konnichiwa

yes, I assume it was the the french OPM. At this time, GTA was not considered as a really good games. But since GTA3 it seems reviewers are praising GTA a lot more than before.

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macross (on 06 May 2008)

New Guinness World Record Holder(Biggest Entertainment Launch Sales): GTA IV > Halo 3 > Spider-man 3

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whatever (on 06 May 2008)

I think this confirms that the 360 could be in trouble going forward. Besides GeoW2, I don't see anything moving units moving forward.

I think they will have to have a price drop before November.

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MorgZ (on 06 May 2008)

Congrats to both consoles. I expect the 360 ratio to become more favourable over the coming weeks due to increased install base now that the hardcore early adopters have purchased it but still a great effort from both consoles.

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darthdevidem01 (on 06 May 2008)

@okeydokey

LOL....same question here,,,his prediction was pwnd!

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--OkeyDokey-- (on 06 May 2008)

Where's naznatips?

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amacfantasy (on 06 May 2008)

Ok this is the first 5 days sales what is the first week sales at?

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coolestguyever (on 06 May 2008)

damn fine sales! it deserves it.

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Louie (on 06 May 2008)

@ Kamil: That´s what preliminary Europe data suggests. Of course, instead of "75%" you´d rather say "nearly doubled" in a press release.

You´ll see the numbers soon ;)

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darthdevidem01 (on 06 May 2008)

@munkeh111

yeah + MANY stores are actually starting to sell the GTA IV + PS3 bundle from today...

i.e Play.com & amazon...thats what I heard somewhere..

Kamil

he probably meant total worldwide sales

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kamil (on 06 May 2008)

@Louie: For Europe/Others. I assumed that you must have numbers since you wrote "Playstation 3 sales nearly doubled compared to the week before, while Xbox 360 sales jumped roughly 50%." and it's quite different from what we've seen in America (61% grow for 360 and 75% grow for PS3).

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Munkeh111 (on 06 May 2008)

@ darthdevidem, that would be extremely impressive, hopefully the drop-off next week wont be so severe (there were some stock issues mostly in the UK though)

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Alfie (on 06 May 2008)

amazing GTA IV...

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Ail (on 06 May 2008)

How much you think movies like Lord of the Rings, Iron Man or SpiderMan did cost ?
Yet I heard noone complain about their cost...

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SaviorX (on 06 May 2008)

100 million dollars?...... WTH were they thinking? I know the games is awesome and all but, sometimes things may hold no weight. You think with all that money, It would have no bugs and graphics like Crysis.......

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darthdevidem01 (on 06 May 2008)

If PS3 sales nearly doubled, shouldn't they be at around 400K as it got 197K last week...

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routsounmanman (on 06 May 2008)

I have no reason to celebrate when such an expensive game succeeds; it moves the industry into dangerous paths.

I'd be really glad if an Okami or Bully achieved these kind of sales.

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Louie (on 06 May 2008)

Kamil: For Europe sales? Or do you mean in the press release? If that´s the case: I decided to keep it vague because with big numbers like that and such a huge impact of a game small adjustements in the hardware data are likely.

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konnichiwa (on 06 May 2008)

@Libellule:

A french magazine right? I think it was the French OPM who gave GTA 2 a 3/10.

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kamil (on 06 May 2008)

@Louie: Could you give specific numbers for hardware sales?

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Raziel Dune (on 06 May 2008)

Razurrection you entertain me. but anyways go GTA 4.

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shams (on 06 May 2008)

@Louie: Just had to Digg this one (instantly), before I saw your comment you know :)

GTA4 is everywhere here at the moment - as is WiiFit (made the morning breakfast show here yesterday). Huge month for gaming!

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Cheebee (on 06 May 2008)

2nd Week dropoff should be massive.

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RAZurrection (on 06 May 2008)

Kinda funny how pachter said last year that the Xbox userbase wouldn't buy GTA

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Louie (on 06 May 2008)

@ Rukusa: Exactly.

@Libellule: I´m actually working on that press release already (regarding huge Wii sales in April)

Thanks Shams!

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libellule (on 06 May 2008)

GTA12 = GTA1/2 = GTA1 and GTA2, not GTA twelve

I still can't read in the future ^^

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rukusa (on 06 May 2008)

@Razurrection

"GTA has always been seen as an Xbox franchise and now, it always will be."

"...xbox franchise..."

er what, Razurrection?

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Munkeh111 (on 06 May 2008)

We want some actual numbers on the frontpage!!!

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rukusa (on 06 May 2008)

so GTA IV PS3 outsold GTA IV 360 in europe total eh?

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libellule (on 06 May 2008)

This is insane (as the Wii sales number)

I remember a time when reviewer put lower score to GTA12 (PSX) because they considered the game was too much "free kiling" and repetitve. In a way, they didn't really like the game.
But now, with GTA4, time is different and it seems GTA4 is getting lot of love whatever it deserves it or not.

I still think MS should have completely secured the game exclusivity since this was their only possbility to keep the second place.

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RAZurrection (on 06 May 2008)

It was expected. GTA has always been seen as an Xbox franchise and now, it always will be.

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akuma587 (on 06 May 2008)

Damn that is a lot of units! The PS3 and 360 were pretty close in terms of actual sales. Much less of a disparity than many of us predicted, including myself.

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