Analysts expect Grand Theft Auto 5 to launch in Take-Two's upcoming financial year (ending March 31, 2013), despite an increasingly crowded release schedule for the publisher.
In the 12 months beginning April 1, 2012, Take-Two currently plans to launch Max Payne 3, BioShock Infinite, Borderlands 2, Spec Ops: The Line, XCOM and XCOM: Enemy Unknown.
National Alliance Capital Markets analyst Mike Hickey told Game Informer: "It seems unlikely that Rockstar Games would launch both Max Payne 3 and GTA 5 in the month on May. Therefore, we have shifted our original expectation for GTA V to launch in May 2012, into the Company's 2013 fiscal second-half operating period.
"We remain confident GTA V will ship in calendar year '12, based on an assumption that Rockstar is using a sub 12 month marketing window for GTA V and the company's fiscal 2013 performance guidance, which would suggest the game's release."
EEDAR's Jesse Divnich said: "[Take-Two] are still saying they will achieve $2.00 earnings per share in fiscal 2013, so Grand Theft Auto V has to come out by March 2013."
Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter commented: "Although GTA V may still launch in FY:13, predicting the actual release date is difficult due to a crowded pipeline.
"I don't know if [Max Payne's delay] means a full year gap, but very likely six months. Too bad, as I think Grand Theft Auto V would benefit from giving Call of Duty some breathing room."
Analysts including Pachter and Hickey previously predicted a summer 2012 release for GTA 5.
Comments
16 comments so far...
svd_grasshopper on 18 Jan '12 said:
"crowded pipeline"
just gimmie my GTA! COD better not force it over to 2013, but to be honest i can't see a GTA game at christmas, seems weird. they will more likely release some DLC for max payne to boost revenues, rather than get GTA's sales diminished by COD... we all know that s**te will appear like clockwork.
Currychips on 18 Jan '12 said:
I can't believe we'll have to wait over a year for this game, surely they wouldn't have released the trailer that far before it was due to come out? I don't want Max Payne 3, take that away til 2013 and give me my GTA5!!
Or at the very least another trailer...
KMakawa on 18 Jan '12 said:
Don't you remember GTA IV's marketing strategy?
Anyhow, if COD has a part to play in shifting GTA 5's date into next year.. I will be royally peed off.
Sentinator on 18 Jan '12 said:
I can't see it coming out this year because Rockstar delay stuff often and they haven't even announced platforms yet.
slick loose on 18 Jan '12 said:
In my professionally opinion, it'll be released before Christmas this year.
StonecoldMC on 18 Jan '12 said:
Halo and GTA are about the only two franchises where the COD effect doesnt really matter.
Getting GTA in or around August to November would suit me down to the ground. Make it happen Take 2!
IplayVideogames on 18 Jan '12 said:
GTA would beat COD I reckon. There's been a COD game every year for ages and there hasn't been a console GTA since 2008. Surely people would rather GTA (plus they last a lot longer too.)
Francisnf on 18 Jan '12 said:
Would be strange if they released it on old platforms, i.e. the 360/PS3 etc if rumours are to be believed and the "next gen" is this year or early next.
dookiephonic on 18 Jan '12 said:
You did see the trailer right? Looks like current gen hardware running the game to me.
slick loose on 18 Jan '12 said:
Yeah if that was next gen, I would be f**king worried.
Barca Azul on 18 Jan '12 said:
September 2012!
ladycroft142 on 18 Jan '12 said:
Hoping for a release before the end of the year is just wishful thinking, they might aim for a 2012 release but like GTA IV, Max Payne 3 and every other game in the history of the universe it'll be subject to an inevitable delay, so my money’s on March 2013.
HeKTiKzZ on 18 Jan '12 said:
just give me GTA!!!!!!!!!! i need a new game!!! something fresh, HURRY UP!!
KMakawa on 18 Jan '12 said:
Trailer definitely looks like its current-gen hardware for sure. There isn't anything truly boundary pushing, it looks like a enhanced-boosted GTA V engine to me.
Francisnf on 18 Jan '12 said:
Yeah i know, all i meant was if they release a new xbox or whatever this year or early next, would be odd going back to an old platform to play what could be the very best launch title, if GTA5 isnt released until sometime next year.
Either way, roll on GTA5, awesome series.
dookiephonic on 18 Jan '12 said:
No worries, no harm done. I might be wrong but I'd wager that they already have something up their sleeves for the next gen. Anyway let the waiting commence....