As more details and pretty pictures come out about GTA V, more people are jumping on the hype train. Who can resist it? Well, apparently, sales expectations are also jumping on that train – estimates are coming in ridiculously high.
Analysts are taking bets on sales figures, but I have to wonder if they’re getting a bit carried away: they are estimating that we’ll see sales of 15-25 million units… in the first year! Yup, they’re even estimating 13 million at launch.
Look, GTA has been a successful series and I’m sure it will do well, especially with how cool it looks. However, Borderlands 2 has been fantastic and ‘only’ shipped 7 million units, and BioShock Infinite has shipped 4 million. So, they’re expecting more units to ship at launch than have been shipped for these two blockbusters put together? Minecraft, which has been number one on Xbox Live essentially since it launched, plus all the people who have bought it for PC, is currently sitting at 11 535 193 purchased copies (oh, and in the last 24 hours 13.5k people bought it). I just don’t see GTA V outselling at launch what has taken Minecraft years.
I’m happy that there are high expectations for GTA. I’m just worried that setting the bar that high will mean it becomes a ‘failure’ if it ‘only’ sells 5-10 million copies in the first year. What are your expectations? Are you all aboard the hype train?
Last Updated: July 31, 2013
That Super Twit
July 31, 2013 at 13:35
Aim stupidly high then sell below expectation… kind of like the issue with the latest Tomb Raider.
TiMsTeR1033
July 31, 2013 at 13:40
GTA 5 will do those kinda sales as long as it is the amazing game its promised to be! I for one see in the near future many shops sold out of Gta 5 in days and then as soon as they come in get sold out until about 1 month then slowing down or due to nature of the game be hard to find.
Vampyre Squirrel
July 31, 2013 at 13:40
CHOO CHOO!!!! I’m on the hype train… just not in the preorder seats.
I’ll get the game, but possibly only somewhere near December 🙁 #sofaraway
Lourens Jordaan
July 31, 2013 at 13:45
I’m still at the station but might take the express later. #randomhashtags
Vampyre Squirrel
July 31, 2013 at 13:48
That’s pretty much what I did with GTAIV… wasn’t sure, then played it a little, then bought it without second thought
Lourens Jordaan
July 31, 2013 at 14:00
I’ve been a GTA fan since GTA:Vice City but for some reason I was very disappointed with GTA:IV. It’s not that I thought it was a bad game, it just wasn’t as FUN as it was supposed to be.
Vampyre Squirrel
July 31, 2013 at 15:08
I’ve got all the GTA games from 3 onwards, and enjoyed them all the way to the 100% completion mark, except for GTA:IV. I agree it’s not as fun, especially if you play it after Vice City or San Andreas.
cnnm
August 1, 2013 at 20:11
Thats because GTA IV was made to be too realistic, hence dull and stiff. But GTA V is different in that iits a combination of realism AND fun, basically a cross between gta iv graphics and gta sa gameplay, most likely making it the biggest and best gta game of all time and easily the top 5 video game in history.
cnnm
August 1, 2013 at 20:10
gta v is a MUST HAVE for gamers.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
July 31, 2013 at 13:58
CHOO CHOO!!!!!!! Chugga chugga chugga chugga CHOO CHOO!!!!
Trevor Davies
July 31, 2013 at 13:45
You’d sell a lot more if you released it on PC too *hint hint*
Vampyre Squirrel
July 31, 2013 at 13:49
I’d get it a lot faster if it was released on PC with a nicely reduced price *hint hint*
Trevor Davies
July 31, 2013 at 14:01
I’d wait even if it was, DLC invariably coming soon.
Vampyre Squirrel
July 31, 2013 at 15:05
True Story
cnnm
August 1, 2013 at 20:12
are u that poor u cant even afford a measly 60$?
Vampyre Squirrel
August 2, 2013 at 10:11
lol! No, but there are more important things in my life that I have to get before a game… and it’s not in $ here 😛
cgreen93
August 1, 2013 at 21:11
no games with this big of a title will ever come out less than 60 bucks
Rui
July 31, 2013 at 16:34
http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2009/01/20/the-real-top-5-selling-games-of-2008/
“3. Grand Theft Auto IV 5.22″
” I had the 360 and PS3 versions of “GTA IV” combining for 5.18 million in sales. So this new tally, which does include the December-released PC version
seems to indicate that that version accounted for an additional 40,000
sales.”
I can see why Rockstar doesn’t release GTA on PC right away. Don’t get me wrong I own both a PS3 and PC but i’ll get it for my PS3 first then get it on STEAM maybe next year. We’ll see a PC version in 6 months anyways.
cgreen93
August 1, 2013 at 21:10
not yet you sneaky pc modder
cgreen93
August 1, 2013 at 21:15
Do you not think theyre going to release it on PC?
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
July 31, 2013 at 13:56
13 million!!!??? ……. with no PC version on top of that too … HOLY FUNK!
EyeDunnttCarrrrr
August 2, 2013 at 08:35
Pc will come later as always. Let the old consoles die with a big finish will ya? New ones are rolling in.
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
August 2, 2013 at 08:36
Lol shame , now I feel sorry for these consoles
InsanityFlea
July 31, 2013 at 13:56
Don’t buy into the hype.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
July 31, 2013 at 13:57
ALL ABOARD!!!! *CHOO CHOO!!*
ALKi1234
July 31, 2013 at 14:02
Look,if Call of duty can ship over 22million copies(ps3,xbox360 alone) i’ll guarantee you GT5 will break records!
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
July 31, 2013 at 14:03
The thing is Call of Duty is a staple diet for the console. One must never, ever, ever, EVER, try and match what CoD does. It’s not possible. The demographics and target audience is just too vastly different.
Jay
August 1, 2013 at 14:54
There was no CoD / BF / Whatever fad when GTA IV came out.
Only time will tell about how the market will react to GTA V.
I’ve already got my GTA V collector’s edition pre-order so.. that’s 1 for the pile I guess 😛
Ben
August 1, 2013 at 18:38
i’ve never bought a CoD game. i’ve never even bought a first person shooter. i can’t stand them. i find them incredibly boring.
cnnm
August 1, 2013 at 20:14
GTA V is bigger than any cod game, what are you talking about…
cnnm
August 1, 2013 at 20:17
Cod4 only sold 7 million and GTA IV sold TWENTY FIVE MILLION(25 million). GTA V is going to go down as the highest selling video game in history.
James
August 2, 2013 at 00:54
COD FAG!!! Love it how you people get scammed out of £40 each year for the same game and yet you think your clever.
shockgamers
August 2, 2013 at 10:15
your a fucking moron and shouldnt be allowed to play games at all fan girl
Ultimo_Cleric N7
July 31, 2013 at 14:03
Bwaahahaha! Good luck with those sales there.
cnnm
August 1, 2013 at 20:17
GTA IV sold 11 million first week. GTA V is 10x more hyped than gta iv and there are more current gen console owners now, gta v will easily break that.
Mathias
July 31, 2013 at 14:04
Well, considering GTA IV sold 11 million copies in its first week, and that with this franchise the expectations are always high, I can say that these analysts like to take their safe bets…
I really want GTA to sell more than CoD this year. I really do… It will be difficult, but it can happen.
Rock789
July 31, 2013 at 14:05
I’m in the pre-order seats, buckled in and waiting to contribute 1/13,000,000th of their estimate… All on my little lonesome! 🙂
Back in reality, I think they’re just a tad optimistic. Yes, it’ll do extremely well! But grief… Give it a chance to mature before you milk it for all it’s worth…
Mathias
July 31, 2013 at 14:08
Another thing that bothers me is that people keep complaining a lot about GTA IV. Yeah, tastes are tastes, but come on, were you gonna love it more if it was more wacky? Look what happens when there’s too much wackiness nowadays: Saints Row The Third. It was a fine game, but it ended up boring me. The Ballad of Gay Tony was crazy fun, and way better than an entire Saints Row (post 2) game or DLC.
I always thought that the GTA universe reboot was needed, and it redefined sandboxes for the whole generation. It might be a little overrated, but it’s not less of an achievement and a game changer.
Rock789
July 31, 2013 at 14:13
Totally agree! Here here…
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
July 31, 2013 at 14:18
Dude, why would anyone downvote you for that. Have an upvote
Lourens Jordaan
July 31, 2013 at 14:32
Downvote = LOL!!!
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
July 31, 2013 at 14:42
Ah! I get it! It’s Upvote for “I agree” and downvote for “Hahaha LOL”
Finally I understand why there are so many downvotes so often
That Super Twit
July 31, 2013 at 14:20
Have my upvote too.
shockgamers
August 2, 2013 at 10:17
no way i it over rated but i agree about saints row you see how absurd part 4 looks smh
That Super Twit
July 31, 2013 at 14:27
….
Gta5
July 31, 2013 at 20:59
Gta 5 going to sell because its one of the biggest franchises in the world and looks amazing,so much stuff to do.
Claude
August 1, 2013 at 14:39
I bought 3 copies already. Doin what I can.
zweeb
August 1, 2013 at 15:40
gta has been selling millions before any if these other games were even a thought….. it’s a legacy of quality gaming a brand of well know artist who craft games that have changed gamers expectations of what an awesome game should be…. all hail GTA V.
Joseph
August 1, 2013 at 17:07
I believe it will far surpass anything we have seen yet in a GTA title.
Cpsteel
August 1, 2013 at 17:45
Believe it!!! All the other games you mentioned aren’t even close to being in the same class as GTA. And once again, when Rockstar blows it outta the water, every other designer will once again try to copy what’s been done to try to capitalize on what Rockstar’s done. And once again they will fail miserably, and have to settle for something decent. Thankfully Rockstar doesn’t mind taking the time to create the truly phenomenal!
Mr. FastPaws
August 1, 2013 at 18:21
Borderlands 2?? Bioshock?
Sorry, these games just aren’t comparable to GTA V….
James
August 2, 2013 at 01:00
:/ take it you have not played Bioshock infinite.
Mr. FastPaws
August 2, 2013 at 01:50
Actually I have, and as someone who hated the first one, I really enjoyed the 2nd one. The story is excellent, and possibly has a chance to be better than GTA V in that department. However, GTA V will be better when it comes to game play, no question about it.
joranbeasley
August 1, 2013 at 19:16
San Andreas was the best of the series imho … I kind of regret getting IV at all … but iim definately on the train for V it looks very awesome!
blueden
August 1, 2013 at 19:17
Rockstar good at getting their customer hype up for their gta games. That what they did in 2008 that suck me into buying gta iv when it first came out – ended up being very disappointed when I found out they took everything that made san andreas fun away. I hope they learn from their mistakes on gta iv and don’t make the same mistake with gta v.
Dec 82
August 1, 2013 at 19:36
I honestly think they will sell that amount maybe more.The reason I think that is because it has a much older and loyal fan base,and for people like that they wouldn’t play as many games as they used to because of time and other things.Personally its the only game I play nowadays and pes of course.
Funk
August 1, 2013 at 20:05
I was thinking BIGGER numbers than that.. But i could just be hyped up!
cnnm
August 1, 2013 at 20:09
Author is kind of retarded. GTA is the biggest video game of all time. You cant even compare bioshock, which has no history, to GTA, let alone borderlands…. GTA will probably sell around 9 million on launch and around 13 million in the next four months.
cgreen93
August 1, 2013 at 21:02
Bioshock and Borderlands did not receive nearly as much hype as GTA V has and their marketing techniques do not come close to Rockstars Games.
shockgamers
August 2, 2013 at 10:11
are you serious dude? do you write this with any knowledge at all? gtav has the potential to outsell a number of titles. gta4 has sold 25 million copies to date gtav will probably be alot bigger then that since there is over 150 million console owners do your research before you write an article damn man
underground66
August 11, 2013 at 01:01
” I just don’t see GTA V outselling at launch what has taken Minecraft years” The first gta came out over a decade ago…its fanbase is incredibly huge from all ages…and you have the nerve to compare gta v to bioshock or whatever the other bull shit was? what noob wrote this garbage?
Sparta
August 22, 2013 at 09:16
HMMMM it seems as like it’s impossible to read a GTA V artical and not have PC trolls complain about how theirs no PC version……ohhh well, they never made a Red Dead Redemption for PC, so why should GTA V be any different? Plus if this where to come out to PC then their would be people complaining that is a bad port, so thiers no pleasing PC trolls either way!
fksdlf;sf
September 1, 2013 at 20:12
it’s because mine craft is for 10 year old children.
james Hyde
September 5, 2013 at 11:37
I really hope it does this well rockstar deserve it for actually caring about there gamer’s unlike some games throwing games out every week lol