GTA IV brings in half a billion dollars in first week

In the first week after its release, GTA IV has sold six million copies, generating $500 million in sales. Most game discs were sold on the first day.

On release day, the latest entry in the Grand Theft Auto series changed hands no less than 3.6 million times, generating Take-Two revenue of $310 million. The publisher made the numbers familiar and didn’t fail to mention that the game broke sales records and received ‘than-expected’ good ratings. The good reception and sale of GTA IV may also indirectly benefit Take-Two: the takeover bid that Electronic Arts made for the publisher could be revised by a higher price.

EA’s offer currently on the table totals $2 billion, or $25.74 per share. Good sales and a rising stock market could put Take Two in a better negotiating position with EA. However, Take Two does not comment on to ask whether or not the company is in talks with an acquisition partner. According to earlier projections allow the game to sell roughly nine million in its first month, with sales of between 11 and 13 million starting before the holidays. In total there would be about twenty-four million consoles running GTA IV.