Grand Theft Auto V Kicks Off a Big Title Push

by Adam Benjamin | September 17, 2013 4:25 pm

If you drove past a GameStop (GME[1]) this morning, you probably saw a long line of people waiting to pick up their copy of Grand Theft Auto V.

GTA V is the latest entry in Take-Two Interactive’s (TTWO[2]) wildly popular and controversial video game series. The Grand Theft Auto franchise is one of the best-selling of all time, and it continually stirs opinion[3] thanks to its violent premise and sexual content. So far, that controversy has only fueled sales.

GTA V has already smashed pre-order records, and is expected to chase sales records[4]. It has some pretty stiff competition in Call of Duty: Black Ops II, which earned $500 million in its first 24 hours. But analysts are predicting[5] that GTA V could earn $400 million in sales its first day, and that estimate has been gradually growing. The game includes new features such as interactive bystanders and in-game stock markets where players can invest in companies.

However, the rest of the game publishing world isn’t sitting quietly. Among some of the other big names on the gaming front:

We’re down to the last few months before Microsoft (MSFT[13]) and Sony (SNE[14]) release their next-gen consoles, so if these titles perform, they’ll be doing so against a new-system wall — a good sign of health for the gaming industry.

Adam Benjamin is an Assistant Editor of InvestorPlace. As of this writing, he did not own a position in any of the aforementioned securities; however, he does own a whole bunch of Pokémon games.

Endnotes:

  1. GME: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=GME
  2. TTWO: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=TTWO
  3. stirs opinion: https://investorplace.com/2013/08/video-game-stocks-child-violence/
  4. chase sales records: http://www.cnbc.com/id/101029918
  5. analysts are predicting: http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/09/16/analyst-grand-theft-auto-v-day-one-sales-to-hit-6-5m-units/
  6. EA: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=EA
  7. biggest sports game launch ever: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/375769/fifa-13-sales-hit-74-million-in-four-weeks/
  8. ATVI: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=ATVI
  9. best-selling video game: http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130917-904654.html
  10. outselling every other action figure line: http://venturebeat.com/2013/08/15/skylanders-figures-are-outselling-all-other-action-figure-properties-so-far-infographic/
  11. NTDOY: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=NTDOY
  12. announcing a line of Pokémon toys: https://investorplace.com/2013/08/can-pokemon-and-nfc-save-a-struggling-nintendo/
  13. MSFT: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=MSFT
  14. SNE: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=SNE

Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2013/09/grand-theft-auto-5-aims-for-sales-records/