If you were waiting for October 2007 for GTA IV, then you better go back and rearrange your schedule as Take-Two Interactive has sent word that Grand Theft Auto IV for the PS3 and the Xbox 360 has been delayed and will now release in the second quarter of fiscal 2008.
They also stated that they are updating the third quarter and fiscal year 2007 direction to reflect the movement of Manhunt 2 for the PS2, PSP and Wii out of the third quarter and the fiscal year!
Ben Feder, CEO, Take-Two said, “Obviously, we are very disappointed to reduce guidance after having previously reaffirmed it. Other than a matter of timing, the movement of Grand Theft Auto IV does not compromise Take-Two in any way. We are in sound financial condition and have a great product line up. Grand Theft Auto IV is going to be the defining next generation video game action adventure.”
Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take-Two said, “With Grand Theft Auto IV, Rockstar is setting a new standard for next generation video games. Certain elements of development proved to be more time-intensive than expected, especially given the commitment for a simultaneous release on two very different platforms. We all recognize that perfecting the game is vital and I can assure everyone it will be worth the wait. We owe it to the game’s millions of fans, to our dedicated development team, and to our shareholders to make sure that Grand Theft Auto IV is a groundbreaking gaming experience that takes maximum advantage of next generation technology.”
Sam Houser is the founder and executive producer of Rockstar Games. He explains, “The new consoles are allowing us to create the Grand Theft Auto game we always dreamed about. Every aspect of the game and its design has been completely transformed. The game is huge and is pushing the hardware platforms to their absolute limits. The top engineers from Sony and Microsoft are working closely with the team in Edinburgh right now, helping us to fully leverage the power of both platforms. As always, our goal is to surpass even the wildest expectations of the game’s fans, and to create the ultimate high definition video game experience.”
GTA IV is one of the most anticipated games this year. It would have been OK if Take-Two had delayed it by a month or so. But now the game is slated to release in 2008. Xbox 360 gamers would be fine with it as they would have Halo 3 to play with, but what about the PS3 gamers? They will feel bad as they are not even getting the episodic content for the game!