GTA4 delayed until 2008.

[Revolver-Ocelot]

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=80752

Crap! it's gonna be quite a wait now GTA4 has been delayed from October until at least Febuary 2008 maybe more. :(

"

Take-Two has confirmed that Grand Theft Auto IV has been pushed back from its original October 2007 release date into fiscal 2008, GamesIndustry.biz reports.

"Obviously, we are very disappointed to reduce guidance after having previously reaffirmed it," said Take-Two's CEO Ben Feder. "Other than a matter of timing, the movement of Grand Theft Auto IV does not compromise Take-Two in any way."
Advertisement

"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 videogame action adventure."

The company revised its fiscal year guidance, ending October 31, 2007, anticipating revenue in the range of USD 950 million to USD 1 billion, with a net loss per share in the range of USD 1.25 to USD 1.35, excluding stock-based compensation expense of USD 0.25 per share and excluding approximately USD 0.61 per share of charges related to the Company's reorganisation expenses.

Other than announcing the game was now planned for release in Q2 of fiscal 2008, which begins on February 1, no specific revised release date for GTA IV was given.

UPDATE: In a conference call, Take-Two's Strauss Zelnick spoke of the challenge involved with working on two relatively new platforms simultaneously, stating that the "delay was essential to ensure the quality of GTA IV."

"We owe it to our 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 and is an experience that takes maximum advantage of next-generation technology."

[30111987]

Just saw it on the BBC site:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6928872.stm

What makes me mad is they must have known it would be delayed some time ago and choose not to spill the beans.

[Sapphireruby]

If it is pished up to 2008, I will actually have a system to play it on..after Christmas and all.

It does suck for those who were planning on purchasing it this Fall though. A bit of a tease.

[Nitrous]

I think Sony was hoping that this title would have shifted some of the PS3's this year. Guess it won't happen now eh.

[Sapphireruby]

Not in my World it will not.

That is pb true. The timing was right and by putting out a new game of a huge favorite..well they figured it would sell at any price. I love it when the suits are wrong.

[Scarface]

I could be wrong but I don't think 40 year old women are their target demographic.

[Sapphireruby]

I am sure they are not. I am not of the 40 year old box checker on the surveys though. I check a diferent range in all honesty.

[Laughing Man]

I was over at the Pc Format forums and they too are talking about this subjects. The folk over there seem to have dug up quite a bit more info on the reasons for the delay.

To cut a long story short it's all Microsofts fault. The folk at Rockstar are meant to be having quite a bit of toruble getting the 360 version of the game on to that sad old age media DVD thing that MS decided to us on their 360. The delay until 2008 is just happens to put the game release a little bit after Microsoft release their new data compression media for the 360.

The PS3 version is suppossedly all ready to ship at the pre agreed date but because MS have an iron clad agreement with Rockstar that states that the game will not appear on any other format unless the 360 version has been released they will be unable to ship the PS3 version in October.

Like I said that seems to be the up shot of the stuff that's been posted over at those forums, I can't say how accurate the info is but it does seem plausiable.

Judge for yourself

http://forum.pcformat.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=53669

[Revolver-Ocelot]

Sounds like BS, because they could easily put it on two discs like everyother developer before them.

Though on the other side of the fence apprantly R* are having trouble developing for the PS3 (like alot of other developers) notice how alot of multiplatform games are released on the XB360 before the PS3 (Colin MacRae, The Darkness and Stranglehold) are three good examples so that's meant to have made the delay as they still have a agreement with Sony not to release it on the XB360 first.

[actordude06]

Man that really stinks and i hope it comes out in 2008 and not in 2078. Also i hope the E.S.R.B doesn't rate it Mature 17+ or Adults Only. That will just make even angrier.

[Laughing Man]

Sounds like BS, because they could easily put it on two discs like everyother developer before them

I doubt they could really get the game on to two discs, RPGs work fine since they generall progress in a singular linear direction but GTA allows the player to go an do whatever they want could you imagine how peed off 360 owners would be if they needed to change disc every time they went between teo different sections?

Anyhoo

Here's a whole list of possible reasons for the delay, ranging from what I mentioned right through to what RO mentioned and even touching on backdoor deals with Sony and possible fallout from Manhunt 2 and Halo 3.

http://forums.gametrailers.com/showthread.php?t=139685

[Talmon]

Fiscal 2008 can still be Calander 2007.

The first quarter of next year starts October 1st.
That is to say 15 days from now.

I find it hard to believe that they wont push this one out before X-mas!