When Take-Two Interactive launched GTA IV back in April, the game was an instant blockbuster, shattering entertainment records with $500 million in revenue during the first week. Now, however, the latest NPD data shows that the title has slipped to 46th place in August (down from 45th in July).
Dow Jones argues that GTA IV's "considerably" slowing sales could undercut Take-Two's position that Electronic Arts' buyout bid undervalues the company. The report also speculates that the slowing sales bring "fresh concerns that at about 8.5 million sold to date, Take-Two's powerhouse GTA IV may have a tough time meeting sales expectations." That said, a Take-Two spokeswoman said the publisher expects sales to "continue at an energetic pace."
With EA having recently let its hostile bid expire, Take-Two and EA have been talking behind closed doors. Analysts appear divided on whether or not a deal will get done. Some believe increasing the bid per share by just two to three dollars would cinch it, while others believe Take-Two's value is waning now with GTA fading, and EA won't increase its bid much, if at all.
Reader Comments (15)
Hey guys! The GTA series has historically had good lasting sales, so the slowdown is something of a story. Also notable is the fact that it may stop short of some perhaps optimistic early assessments, assuming that sales don't pick up again in the Fall. Finally, the slowing sales of Take-Two's largest franchise are not a good thing WRT to their bargaining value, though EA has apparently taken their offer off the table.
sales are down b/c almost everyone that wants it, has it. also, word of mouth about game play has gotten around and apparently, it sucks compared to san andreas. so ppl that were interested aren't anymore. this happens. but the problem with video games is that ppl equate games to kids. so the censorship is HEAVY "to protect the innocent." thing is, ONLY GROWNUPS who have jobs can actually afford the games and the systems to play them on. so why not market games to the ppl who have the means to play them? there are movies and tv shows and clothes and food and a host of other things just for kids and others just for grown ups. why not games?
stainedskys: "Maybe somebody somewhere will take notice of this posting and make a difference, the GTA series is an adult game, with adult content (however, I did let my 4 year nephew play GTA 3, and then got his dad hooked), and thus, let the adults decide what they want to play and what they want to leave on the store shelves." The problem isn't with kids purchasing the game, or even adults making poor choices and letting their kids play it. It's cousins, siblings, young uncles, etc who expose children to the game - something you said you did a few sentences before the comment I reposted above. Don't defend the purpose of the ratings system when you're someone who skirts it. You make everyone with a valid point about gaming responsibly sound like a goofy teenager.
I'll sum it up, GTA IV had alot to live up to. While its graphics and gameplay were much improved when compared to previous titles the fact is that the game has very little "replayability". The story is alright and the improved liberty city is fun to explore but only for so long. The people that made this game left out some pretty cool features that were avalible in sanandreas (customizing cars, gang wars, flying jets, vast open country side, etc.) all in all GTA IV is a good game but it didnt really live up to the hype, which is probly why its sales are down.
myrainbowhope your an idiot
Sorry had to add something and the edit button isn't working...to "myrainbowhope", sure this country is very big on family-related stuff. But people looking for that kinda thing don't get GTA. Some people want games with violence, because to some, violence = entertainment..also, violent games, I've experienced, work pretty well when you got some anger & stress you need to get rid of, and doing any of the stuff from GTA in real life has some very unpleasant consequences. That's why these games make such good money. The violence and insanity these games have is what people have come to expect from it and love it for.
The game's been out for a while. Most of the people that got psyched about it and wanted it saved up and bought it in it's first weeks or months. Happens to every game out there. Nothing stays on top that long. So really this is just an obvious article. If Take Two still wants to be getting loads of money from games, then they should've already started working on either GTA V or something else thats guaranteed big money.
stainedskys, I understand what you're saying very well, and agree with you wholeheartedly. However, America is advertised as a family-oriented country. That is the safest ground for a country to stand on in the face of other countries much older and wiser than ours, especially amidst our poorly thought-out decision to stay in the Middle East and cause drama. Fortunately, America is not a country of blood and semen, as much as it may appear to be. I've travelled throughout at least 75% of this country. I've seen everything from ghettos and gun fights over drugs to the hoity-toity gated neighborhoods and their plastic women. The censorship of GTA's content was long coming and unavoidable. The only person I've heard complain about it is you... You're right, though. A game is still a game, and it's supposed to be fun. However, fun doesn't translate to uncensored GTA for 90% of the population... We're a democracy, and we take majority votes. You're welcome to draw lots of pictures of the violence you crave, though. :D You can post them on your fridge.
stainedskys is right. i now know i wasnt the only one that got bored. just bored. its gotten to where i skip cut scenes completely. the over the top facter they had in the passed is gone. its just too real. the realism is good for the graffics and story, i guess, but no decapatation? lame. it seems that saints row, yes i said it, is the one coming out on top this year for its straight fun fact, extra content, and maybe even story. we'll have to see.
My belief is that those that have purchased this game (as I have myself, and I was highly expecting its release) have bad mouthed this game to potential buyers. Rockstar did a great job on the other GTA's, but with the release of GTA IV, it lost its luster, its flare, San Andreas was by far a much better game, and with that came a lot of mouth to mouth advertisement, and thus longer living sales. The replay of San Andreas is almost limitless, Rockstar cut way back on the play value of GTA IV. It's almost like it's a step back from where they were going. I know I was miserably disappointed, I didn't even complete the game because I just got bored. Rockstar got slammed for all the inappropriate content of GTA San Andreas, but, "there is no such thing as bad publicity", it just drew the sales higher and higher because everyone wanted to see what all the commotion was about. When Rockstar was bought out, and the new company took over, and they censored GTA IV, they took what was special about the GTA series and crippled it, they caved to censorship. what a shame, because it had such great possibilities. Maybe somebody somewhere will take notice of this posting and make a difference, the GTA series is an adult game, with adult content (however, I did let my 4 year nephew play GTA 3, and then got his dad hooked), and thus, let the adults decide what they want to play and what they want to leave on the store shelves. I say, push the boundaries, it's just a game, and to give into censorship is like America giving into the English about the stamp act, they will lose more and more sales, Americans, don't want to be censored.