Grand Theft Auto Passes 125 Million Units Shipped

[MikeWehner]

Grand Theft Auto Passes 125 Million Units Shipped

Take-Two CEO explains why you only see a new GTA every once in a while.

As we inch ever closer to the Q2 2013 release of Grand Theft Auto V, it's a good time to reflect on just how far the series has come. Remember back when it was just a pixelated, blocky, top-down murder fest? Those sure were the days, eh? Take-Two is also taking a bit of a look back, but instead of daydreaming about the days of yore, the publisher has tallied up the sales of the entire franchise and declared that the Grand Theft Auto IP has passed the 125 million shipped mark.

Speaking at the Credit Suisse Technology Conference, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick revealed the stunning figure. Beyond sales figures, Zelnick also addressed GTA's sporadic and somewhat unpredictable release schedule, explaining that it's more about creating a great experience than churning out a new title every couple of years.

"Grand Theft Auto has the highest quality of any title, which is why it is the standard-bearer in the business. It's why it's sold 125 million units," Zelnick explains. "I would argue that saying to people 'make a perfect-rated title that's the standard bearer in the business and do it on this every-other-year schedule' not only isn't realistic, but it also runs the risk of taking a very special franchise and making it less special."

Zelnick really does have a point here. The GTA games of recent years have received almost universal critical acclaim, and expecting that type of a product to be refreshed on a set schedule isn't a very realistic goal.

Source: GamesIndustry

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[GonzoGamer]

Sure.
But the GTA games from last generation were amazing and they came out like every other year. I actually enjoyed those games more.

 

[Lugbzurg]

Sure.
But the GTA games from last generation were amazing and they came out like every other year. I actually enjoyed those games more.

I think they mean mainstream titles. Sure, there were other big games without numbers like San Andreas and Vice City, and then there were also handheld spinoffs like Chinatown Wars. Those are easier to make.

 

[Erttheking]

With Grand theft Auto it's the infrequent release dates that make it special
With COD it's the brain function of the player character that makes it "special"

Seriously, do we need to bring Call of Duty into EVERY conversation about gaming?

 

[J Tyran]

"Grand Theft Auto has the highest quality of any title, which is why it is the standard-bearer in the business. It's why it's sold 125 million units," Zelnick explains. "I would argue that saying to people 'make a perfect-rated title that's the standard bearer in the business and do it on this every-other-year schedule' not only isn't realistic, but it also runs the risk of taking a very special franchise and making it less special."

Being released once in a blue moon makes the Elder Scrolls a bit special too, Its probably something to do with creating huge open world games though.