Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games must be crying tears of joy and wiping them away with $50 bills these days with [i]Grand Theft Auto IV[/i] being the tremendous success it's come to be. A recent press release reads, "Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), said today that [i]Grand Theft Auto IV[/i] has surpassed all-time entertainment records for day one and week one sales by dollar value. Released on Tuesday, April 29th, [i]Grand Theft Auto IV[/i], the critically acclaimed video game, has sold through to consumers approximately 6 million units globally with an estimated retail value of more than $500 million in the first week. [i]Grand Theft Auto IV[/i] sold approximately 3.6 million units on its opening day with a retail value of approximately $310 million globally.
'We knew [i]Grand Theft Auto IV[/i] would break new ground in terms of the player's experience, with its compelling story line, extraordinary gameplay and action that ranges over a broad urban canvas. Now, it has broken sales and rating records as well. [i]Grand Theft Auto IV[/i]'s first week performance represents the largest launch in the history of interactive entertainment, and we believe these retail sales levels surpass any movie or music launch to date. We congratulate the entire Rockstar team on creating a must-have experience that takes the legendary Grand Theft Auto franchise to a new level,' said Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take-Two."
But that's not all, in Xbox 360 news according to shacknews.com, [i]Grand Theft Auto IV[/i] was the most played game on Xbox Live for the week of April 27th. [i]Grand Theft Auto IV[/i] topped two little games you may have heard of named [i]Call of Duty 4[/i] (#2) and [i]Halo 3[/i] (#3). "Rankings are based on the number of unique users playing online while connected to Xbox Live. [i]GTA 4[/i]'s top ranking knocks [i]Call of Duty 4[/i] off of a solid three-month streak at number one in online activity."
But wait, there's more! On the PS3 front, the website videogamer.com, SCEE chief David Reeves had some interesting comments on [i]Grand Theft Auto 4[/i] and the Xbox 360. Some of it sounds like sour grapes and other parts seem to be hints at things to come for PS3 owners, you be the judge. The following is from videogamer.com:
"VideoGamer.com: I wanted to ask you about Microsoft and the DLC secured for GTA 4. Is it damaging to Sony and PlayStation that there is no DLC for GTA 4 on PS3?
DR: Well I think you probably will see it, it's just that a deal obviously was struck between Microsoft and Take 2 to do that. And if that's what they want to do, I think that's the last shot they have.
VideoGamer.com: Your impression is that the 360 is a sinking ship?
DR: No I don't think it's a sinking ship. I think they have contributed amazingly to the growth of the industry. And I think we have done exactly the same. We don't criticise the competition because we are all in this industry and the only way you can do it is to actually bring more consumers in. So I'm not going to criticise them. All I'm saying is that I think that when we look ahead I think we honestly have a better line-up on PlayStation 3 than they probably do on Xbox. They've had two or three Christmases now, I can't remember how many, but I think we've got a really good one coming up. Not just Christmas but in the summer as well.
VideoGamer.com: Do you have any message for PS3 owners, Sony fans who perhaps had wanted some GTA 4 DLC, has seen the MS exclusive deal and thought, is there anything in store for us?
DR: I would say to them then, you know, email Rockstar (laughs), ask them what's coming. And I think they already are!
VideoGamer.com: Is there something coming?
DR: I'm honestly not going to make any comment on that because it's too big a thing to… we can make an announcement when we make an announcement."
If in fact the Playstation 3 does get [i]GTA4[/i] DLC it remains to be seen if it will be also be available for 360 owners, or a PS3 exclusive, or if it will be the Xbox 360 DLC at a later date. Stay with MyGamer.com for all your gaming needs.