Don’t blame the heads of Sony and Microsoft’s game divisions for wanting to sleep in today; they just learned that Grand Theft Auto IV has been delayed until next spring, throwing off their respective holiday lineups. Take Two, the game’s publisher, which had the final say in the matter vis-à-vis Rockstar, delayed the game for “additional development time required to complete the title.”
Another high-profile video game delayed. How I wish more developers would simply adopt the “when it’s done” policy. This release date one-two step is like one long, drawn out tease.
The game’s delay—are you really surprised it was delayed?—doesn’t exactly help Sony or Microsoft’s position this holiday season. GTA IV was supposed to be the system seller this year, especially for Sony after word hit that Konami delayed Metal Gear. No doubt Nintendo is pleased with the turn of events.
What killer app, system-selling games are left? I know of Assassin’s Creed and Heavenly Sword, but is that all? We all know Nintendo’s strategy: it will throw together some fishing simulator and it will end up selling approximately eleventeen zillion copies.
I agree this does hurt both Sony and Microsoft, it really do and it really sucks for GTA fans. But it hurts Sony a whole lot more. Microsoft still has Halo 3, which in my opinion is equally just as much of an important game as GTA4. Sony is in desperate need of blockbuster games and GTA4 is probably the last known proven game that was left this holiday season (maybe call of duty 4). And with no GTA 4, the potential new people that were on the fence on if they wanted to get a 360 for Halo 3, or a PS3 for GTA4 are all now guaranteed 360 owners.
both the PS3 and 360 have some other games that looks promising coming out this holiday, the 360 with probably the better lineup (on paper)…Id say by far. But you never know when or if one of those other games will take the console world by storm, so I still wouldn’t count either console a shoe win for this holiday just yet.
This is a blow, but on paper, Microsoft has to be thinking a little that this may be a blessing in disguise
It is disappointed for the delay..
but it will release on this month finally.. :)