Forget about Hollywood blockbusters the new gig in town is “Grand Theft Auto IV.” which in one week is expected to gross over $400M dollars which is a a record for video games and possibly the biggest debut ever for an entertainment product.
According to Content Agenda: Sources close to publisher Take-Two Interactive, whose Rockstar Games label is developing and releasing the title, said that the latest installment of the hit franchise will reach that figure and sell some 6 million units after it launches worldwide on April 29.
Though they rarely release the data, videogame publishers are able to accurately predict early game sales based on what retailers order.
Microsoft currently holds the record for the biggest videogame launch with “Halo 3,” which grossed $300 million in its first week and sold about 5 million units.
“GTA IV” has even bigger potential, however, since it is available for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. “Halo 3” was an Xbox 360 exclusive.
Several industry analysts also told Daily Variety that they fully expect “GTA IV” to come close to and possibly exceed $400 million in sales out of the gate.
Video game sellers have slightly varying predictions at this point, though all expect it to be huge. Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes said that “GTA IV” will likely do “two times the volume” that “Halo 3” did for his chain, while GameStop senior veep of merchandising Bob McKenzie said the game is currently tracking slightly behind Microsoft’s three-quel.
A Take-Two spokesman declined to comment.
Comparisons to other media are difficult, since “Grand Theft Auto IV” costs $60 domestically and contains dozens, if not hundreds, of hours of content, whereas the average film ticket in the U.S. last year cost $6.88 and is good for a few hours of entertainment.
Nonetheless, Take-Two will likely be crowing that the perf of its game is close to, if not above, the No. 1 film bow of all time, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” which grossed $404 million worldwide in its first six days.
News comes as Take-Two’s board is trying to fend off a $2 billion takeover attempt by Electronic Arts. Executive chairman Strauss Zelnick and CEO Ben Feder are sure to be touting early sales momentum for “GTA IV” at the company’s annual meeting Thursday, which is, not coincidentally, a day before EA’s tender offer to shareholders expires.
For more go to Content Agenda
