Grand Theft Auto V Sells 60 Million; Take-Two Boasts "Immense" Holidays Consumer Demand

Take-Two Interactive posted today its quarterly financial results, giving a detailed look at how the company did in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016, ended on December 31st, 2015.

[Herbalistic]

T2 is a really quality publisher..They don't force their studios to release sequels each year outside of sports.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Force? Rockstar has a contract with T2 that states what the will and will not make.

I don't think its solely due to T2 as much as its due to the pedigree of Rockstar.

The studios they own, they will clearly make create what they feel just as they do factually own studios, so I can't say they don't do that as I don't really buy that a publisher is letting developers they actually own dictate business.

Unless they've openly stated that, I would very much doubt that they let them do what evers and go full yolo that is not only unheard of, its rare and I don't even think those publishers that do give their teams freedom, give them COMPLETE freedom, they likely do to a degree.

ie if the want a new IP, they likely might choose the genre due to popularity and getting a good return, then they might ok the team to create said new IP the way they feel just but only under certain situations and limitations.

Just saying, I do believe publishers like Sony gave the ok for Horizon, but I think they did so because it fit what they wanted in the first place.

New IP, western RPG to fill their gap and it matched what GG wanted, IF Sony didn't feel right about it, they might have just made them go back and focus on a Killzone.

So GG wanting a new IP may not be the reason for titles like Horizon Zero Dawn's existence, but merely Sony also wanting a new IP that fit what GG was doing. For all we know they might pick the genre, budget and let the team go from there.

As a businessman, forgive me if I don't buy such a strange amount of freedom given just how expense it is to produce quality titles.

[MajorLazer]

60 Million! Simply outstanding and breathtaking. Just shows how much of a juggernaut GTA is, nothing else can compete. Not talking just about sales but pulling power, appeal and revenue. Pretty sure GTA V is the quickest ever entertainment medium to make a billion. Not even films can compete with the juggernaut.

[Vhampir]

Aside from R* San Diego allegedly having sweatshop work conditions and 12 hour work days for years on end.

https://www.glassdoor.com/R...

[sactownlawyer916]

Please single player dlc! It's cool they give free Gta online dlc but I want I want single player dlc so bad. Hopefully some comes out this year.

[RosweeSon]

It would be nice as the last couple of slices we got (Gay Tony/Lost Damned) were absolutely top notch great value for money. It would be most welcomed but i feel they are gonna wanna try and top this somehow and have probably started on number 6 ;( 5 is a great game tho and does deserve a little single player DLC.

[ScorpiusX]

Is that combined between both releases of last gen & current gen .

[DJustinUNCHAIND]

Makes it even more impressive. People bought it twice.

[ScorpiusX]

So buying an item twice is okay depending the item interesting .

[DarXyde]

Castillo,

Yes, actually. Even more impressive if it's re-released in a year. GTA V and The Last of Us Remastered are testament to that.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Doubtful. I wouldn't be surprised if more then half are new GTAV players in terms of the current gen and PC version.

Yes, last gen GTAV did like 35 million, but I just don't see the majority of the current gen GTAV and PC sales as repeat buyers, that is just very, very unlikely.

Consider not ALL GTA fans are HARDCORE GTA fans, I would say maybe 10 million or so are the most hardcore, many might buy GTA just to mess around in, so I don't see them buying it many more times to continue to do the same things as I feel only the most hardcore are doing that.

Consider as a Tekken fan, own 3 versions of Tekken 5,

PS2, PSP, PS3.

How many do you really think are doing that? The majority? Really?

I think its actually rare and I don't really buy most are buying it again.

[chrisx]

Gtav was real fun while it lasted. I was underwhelmed by how short the game was. Gtavi should go back to 1 protagonist

[sullynathan]

It definitely had more content than the previous GTAs.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@Sully- 100% agreed.

One of the longest GTA's to ever release. A wealth of content. Some are just never satisfied.

GTAV's easily one of my favorite GTA's and I would actually love for them to continue the 3 person concept as it as amazing in GTAV!

I would also like for them to add a female character too, different age groups etc.

[HaydenJameSmith]

The main story takes an average of 31 hours. The only previous GTA game to beat it was San Andreas with 32.5 hours. And this is excluding all the extra activities, exploration, Online etc. How on earth anyone thought GTA5 was short is beyond me.

http://howlongtobeat.com/ga...
http://howlongtobeat.com/ga...

@EDMIX

I agree. I love the three person concept and would love to see that continued and even improved. They definitely need to add in a female protagonist at some point but not for diversity's sake.

[HaydenJameSmith]

It was the longest GTA yet. I don't understand why people insist it was short.

[sullynathan]

The main campaign is shorter than previous gta, everything else in the game is not

[sullynathan]

wow, those numbers are staggering, it could possibly surpass Minecrafts sales by the end of the generation. I somehow doubt that any other GTA will sell this much, it seems like a once in lifetime thing.

[SteamPowered]

The Winter Sale on Steam was probably a nice boost to GTAV sales. Once it dropped to 40% I just couldnt help myself.

[FallenAngel1984]

I think it may be impossible for GTAVI to surpass this amount unless it too is a cross gen game

[_-EDMIX-_]

LOL! smh....

No.

GTA is a series that can push such numbers.

PS2 ALONE the damn game moved 16 MILLION, on PS2...ALONE.

Thus, on 2 platforms NEAR 90 million, I always for YEARS theorized that it would move 30 million plus units and I was very much correct when it did last gen.

GTAVI can move easily 60 million plus when current gen, next gen...PC.

Consider what I stated about GTASA...it didn't stop with PS2, it didn't stop with 16 million, it got ported many times, kept selling.

Mind you.."unless it too is a cross gen game" well.....did you think those numbers where solely from current gen or something? LMFAO!

You think its um "impossible" to surpass 60 million, unless its a cross gen game, yet ignore the 60 million unit mark is about GTAV's cross gen sales?

Really now bud.

Maybe you need to read what those sales consist of.

[Yui_Suzumiya]

Now only if quality games such as The Last of Us, Soma, The Order: 1886, Fallout 4 and Life is Strange sold this well :/

[sullynathan]

Fallout 4 and quality? lol
the order and quality? lol
single exclusives selling as much as a cross gen multiplatform game that is the 2nd highest budgeted video game of all time? lol

[xPhearR3dx]

Are you implying GTA V isn't a quality game?

[WellyUK]

Yes and he's right. The online is a joke and is incredibly unstable kicking people out of games every few mins, then there is the insane loading times on consoles. Plus all the GTA games are pretty much the exact same game reskinned and updated visually (Mainly because it takes 5 years to make one) but other than the visuals the games really are not that different. The gameplay is what kills this game for me personally, it's just boring and a game that has an auto aim feature on it clearly shows that the game has terrible gun play when on foot. This leads to the only modes online that have players on is Racing and freemode.

The story on GTA is well, lets be honest. Shite.

Most of what Rockstar makes is really not that good and they seem to be immune to criticism as it has micro transaction and shoddy servers but you NEVER hear complaints about it. Then there is the whole modding issues on PC which they are being complete A holes about and their support is absolutely pathetic and they started to blame issues in game on peoples hardware on PC...

Visually GTA V is great especially on PC and what they achieved on last gen, but other than that the game is lifeless and very boring which is the same for a lot of their games.

I honestly don't see what people rave about with GTA V it's really not that much different from any previous GTA game apart from looking pretty.

[sullynathan]

@Welly This is such a lie especially coming from someone that likes Witcher 3, game with poor combat compared to other games within its genre. Witcher 2 with an open world. Did you expect R* to change their formula that has worked for a decade now?

There's a thing called turning off auto aim, it's in all GTA games.

lifeless is a lie for one of the best open world games made with some of the best living breathing world made.

GTA has good writing, it has never been about story. It's been about gameplay, something it has done well.

Stop with your ridiculous crap abut it not being different from past GTAs. Difference from past GTAs gives GTA 4, a crap game. What you don't do is change a working formula, you improve on it which GTA V did.

Do you expect R* to allow peopel to use mods in the multiplayer mode?

[WellyUK]

Going to struggle to sell any where near without a MP.

[_-EDMIX-_]

smh.

Films like Bladerunner didn't do huge Star Wars or GI Joe numbers.

That doesn't mean they are of lessor quality, it merely means they didn't move such numbers in sales.

titles like The Last Of Us, The Order, Fallout 4 etc won't move such units due to the demographic that actually buy them.

its not saying its of lessor based on sales, its merely saying those sales are not even the norm in the first place.

That is like saying "Now if only quality games like XYZ" then compare it to Assassins Creed or Call Of Duty or something.

Those imho are unrealistic sales and are NOT the norm of game sales to even suggest its merely do to quality.

Some series can budget to market more, they can create great quality consistently and maintain that fanbase. That isn't a normal thing to pull off.

Though I don't hate those titles, I think they great games, I also get why they are not moving GTA numbers.

GTA, COD etc are NOT the norm of game sales. You can create a game that is probably like GTA if not better and it would still sell below GTA due to the name alone.

Many of you need to learn about business and really understand what perceived value is. Rockstar and T2 have gained a reputation for creating one of the greatest open world series of all time, they will always for a long, long time get sales due to that sole reputation, they are one of the founders of a genre type and they likely will always get recognized as the pioneers of the concept.

KFC may not be the best fried chicken on earth, but its clear they've made a brand that is still recognized as being just that. Thus...them getting more sales, doesn't mean one is better, worse etc.

It merely means they will ride this wave of recognition and perceived value for years and decades to come.

You can make the best coke on earth, people will still recognize Pepsi or Coke'cola over you.

Stop trying to add some moral compass to sales. Some games sell due to quality and reputation and just have a unrealistic edge that can't really be reproduced.

I mean unless one of the games you mentioned can go back in time and create a genre...

[frankdrebin72]

Edmix,..its good to see someone that clarifies the differences OR lack of in sales numbers vs quality.
I appreciate your opinion and mature attitude to the whole sales numbers wars weather its a game, a cola, a console.
As you basically say,.high sales do not equate quality, nor do low sales determine the quality of said product.

[JackBNimble]

Why do guys like you feel that you need to write an essay to get your point across.
It's boring, no one wants to read a wall of text.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@Frank- well thank you. Many reasons exist why the mega blockbusters that are doing extreme numbers can continue to do that.

Many times its something that can't merely be reproduced.

@Jack- OT. I mean..while having a conversation with someone face to face, you don't stop mid sentience based on how long you might have been speaking do you?

Whats being explained isn't a simple concept either. I'm not really sure why you are on a game site and find reading about views on games "boring".

Starts to make sense why you want post limited to a few words, easier to get right?

Don't belittle yourself.

[pompombrum]

Awesome, now can Rockstar either announce some single player dlc or showcase whatever it is they are working on? The suspense is killing me.

[NerdStalker]

Excellent gta v was amazing, perhaps a little too easy though, time to give us gta six then seven

[PizzaSteve]

I still haven't bought this game. I keep saying I will but don't and it's cheap now. I think I'm just not interested in it.

[Germany7]

The game already sold pretty well on PS3 and Xbox 360.
Really impressive these numbers.

[Software_Lover]

Why is this game still $60 f'n dollars lol.

[xTheMercenary_]

Probably because you haven't searched around enough, i see lots of sales which drop GTA V's price.

[Software_Lover]

I have the game on PC.

Sales, yes. Sales imply that it would be cheaper than the normal price. I'm talking about the normal price (on the digital stores atleast). I have seen the game on sale digitally for around $35.

[_-EDMIX-_]

? lol for whom?

http://www.amazon.com/Grand...

You can get it used for $30 and some change.

You merely didn't look hard enough bud. Consider Call Of Duty Ghost on Steam is likely still full price lol

http://store.steampowered.c...

LMFAO! Black Ops 2...released 2012 is still full price on Steam from Activision.

Sooooooooo maybe you need to stop seeking your games from certain methods before questioning the price.

I mean....$60 from where? lol

[Software_Lover]

..... WTF are you talking about?

I guess I should've been more specific in my response and not so vague, but I'm not looking to buy the game. I bought it day one for PC and still play it from time to time.

I just happened to go on the PlayStation and Xbox digital store today and saw that it was still 59.99 after all these years which I thought was funny, but if people are still buying it then heh, make your money.

Black Ops 2? This is a GTAV article, but I will bite. Yes, I am amazed that that game is still $60 also.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@Software- what am I talking about? Your admitting to being vague bud, your comment doesn't state what you mean other then this belief the game is still $60 which isn't true based on sources showing different prices else where.

"I mean....$60 from where? lol" as I'm questioning from where are you getting this figure.

"I guess I should've been more specific in my response and not so vague" yes, very much so.

"Black Ops 2? This is a GTAV article" the comparison is to show that digital prices differ from retail.

I mean...if you get what was posted, you get why its being used as an example.

"You merely didn't look hard enough bud. Consider Call Of Duty Ghost on Steam is likely still full price"

ie consider your could say this about a game from 2012 IF your merely referring to digital only. The example is just and has its place.

"it was still 59.99 after all these years which I thought was funny"

I mean...you thought this was "funny", others who are a bit more insightful on the industry see this as normal for a digital version to stay at such a price.

Again..."you" are amazed at this. This isn't news for me or many on here who knows this to be very, very common. Evident by that Black Ops 2 example.

Do you now see why its being brought up as an example?

[sullynathan]

Really popular and well selling games don't get that many permanent price drops

[Mrveryodd]

I have bought this first for the 360 then the one and if i buy that pc i have a eye on , i will buy it again.

[dreamoner]

Mafia 3 fiscal year 2017? Does it include this year? : p Thought that game was coming soon...

[hiawa23]

That's cool, but can we get some SP DLC, please...

[averagejoe26]

It's unfortunate that grand theft auto is so popular because this studio will never make another game again. They are going to go after $$$ obviously and gta sells like hot cakes. I can't blame them and I understand the business but it's unfortunate for the sake of art.

[sullynathan]

R* have been making a host of different games ever since gta has been a cash cow a decade ago