Michael Pachter: GTA 4 may be delayed due to Halo 3

Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter has predicted that GTA IV may actually be pushed back due to the release of Halo 3. This prediction was made in conjunction with his analysis and recommendations regarding Take-Two finances and their stock offerings.

He cited both financial reasons and to avoid the Halo 3 launch as the reason for the delay. Halo 3 is set to be out on September 25 while Grand Theft Auto IV is slated just three weeks after that. Pachter further clarified this,

We believe that a two-week delay would provide a reasonable gap between the launch of Halo 3 and the launch of GTA IV, and would actually help sales of both games.

In addition, a delay of the ‘normal’ SKU for GTA IV by two or three weeks could allow Take-Two to maximize revenues from the .99 Collector’s Edition of the game by shipping that SKU on October 17, and to increase overall profitability.

His analysis of the situation regarding the release of GTA IV is reasonable, to an extent. It really would hurt any game if it was released near the Halo 3 launch date. However, there is an alternative possibility should GTA IV keeps to its original launch date.

It doesn’t hurt the company’s reputation for pushing back a game that some people may want more than Halo 3, and they’ll still be getting the same patronage eventually. Another thing that we should consider before we make our own judgment is the fact that there will be some gamers who will actually buy both regardless of the launch dates.

That said, Pachter’s analysis could be on the mark or not. Until Take-Two announces that they’re pushing it back, we’re not going to make any calls on this one.

Via GameDaily BIZ

Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter has predicted that GTA IV may actually be pushed back due to the release of Halo 3. This prediction was made in conjunction with his analysis and recommendations regarding Take-Two finances and their stock offerings.

He cited both financial reasons and to avoid the Halo 3 launch as the reason for the delay. Halo 3 is set to be out on September 25 while Grand Theft Auto IV is slated just three weeks after that. Pachter further clarified this,

We believe that a two-week delay would provide a reasonable gap between the launch of Halo 3 and the launch of GTA IV, and would actually help sales of both games.

In addition, a delay of the ‘normal’ SKU for GTA IV by two or three weeks could allow Take-Two to maximize revenues from the .99 Collector’s Edition of the game by shipping that SKU on October 17, and to increase overall profitability.

His analysis of the situation regarding the release of GTA IV is reasonable, to an extent. It really would hurt any game if it was released near the Halo 3 launch date. However, there is an alternative possibility should GTA IV keeps to its original launch date.

It doesn’t hurt the company’s reputation for pushing back a game that some people may want more than Halo 3, and they’ll still be getting the same patronage eventually. Another thing that we should consider before we make our own judgment is the fact that there will be some gamers who will actually buy both regardless of the launch dates.

That said, Pachter’s analysis could be on the mark or not. Until Take-Two announces that they’re pushing it back, we’re not going to make any calls on this one.

Via GameDaily BIZ