Breaking: Take-Two Delays GTA IV Until Q2F 2008

Author: by Jason Dobson, Brandon Boyer

Officials from major publisher Take-Two have announced that the company's heavily anticipated Grand Theft Auto IV has been delayed from October of this year to now be released in the second quarter of fiscal 2008. Previously expected to ship as one of the major touchstone holiday titles for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, this delay now places the game's release sometime between February and April of 2008. Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick pegged the delay on its multi-platform release, saying, "Certain elements of development proved to be more time-intensive than expected, especially given the commitment for a simultaneous release on two very different platforms.” Zelnick added that “perfecting the game is vital” and that the company is working to “make sure that Grand Theft Auto IV is a groundbreaking gaming experience that takes maximum advantage of next generation technology.” Take-Two CEO Ben Feder said the company was "very disappointed" that the company's fiscal 2007 guidance would have to be reduced after previous reaffirmation, but said that "other than a matter of timing, the movement of Grand Theft Auto IV does not compromise Take-Two in any way." With BioShock, Carnival Games, Table Tennis, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (GOTY Edition), NBA 2K8 anad NHL 2K8 still on the docket for fiscal 2007, Feder said that the company was in "sound financial condition and have a great product line up." Gamasutra will have more from a Take-Two trading update announcing this change in the near future.