GTA IV sales hit 926,000 in five days

By Ellie Gibson Published 7 May, 2008

Xbox 360 version more popular.

Retail analysts Chart-Track have revealed 926,000 copies of GTA IV were sold in the UK during the game's first five days on sale.

514,000 of those were for Xbox 360, with the remaining 413,000 for PS3 - a split of 55 per cent to 45 per cent.

On day one alone, 631,000 copies of the game were sold. According to Chart-Track, GTA IV software revenue is bigger than the revenue of all other games during any week this year since the first seven days of 2008.

What's more, in its first week GTA IV sold more copies than all but the top three best-selling games of 2007 (FIFA '08, Brain Training and Call of Duty 4).

The title also boosted hardware sales - PS3 by 127 per cent over the previous week, and Xbox 360 by 125 per cent.

GTA IV has beaten predecessor Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas in the record-breaking stakes. That game, which launched on 29th October 2004, sold 501,000 copies on its first day and 677,000 in its first week - which consisisted of two days, due to the day of the week it was released. At that time, the PS2 had an installed base of around 6.6 million.

Now GTA IV is the new record holder for all-formats - but San Andreas still holds the day one and week one records for the individual format.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (63) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • the_dudefather #1 4 years ago

    everybody wins

  • CannonAnBall #2 4 years ago

    Not bad figures for both sides. Peace.

  • lambtron #3 4 years ago

    First two comments not fanboy ravings shocker.

  • neil_likes_bums #4 4 years ago

    Well deserved, imho

  • 3william56 #5 4 years ago

    The 360 version is more popular, but with the much larger 360 installed base, there's a bigger proportion of Sony owners buying it, and the difference in sales isn't really that spectacular. That $50m for the downloadable content not looking like a good investment now - no surprises there.

    So where's the 360/PS3 comparison?
    Not found a razor sharp enough to split that hair yet?
    (or can't face the onslaught of bile and ignorance it will generate at EG towers)

    Well deserved result for R*: memo to Iron Man game etc. developers - quality still sells.
    (now please sober up, stop counting your millions and get the freeze bug sorted out kthxbye.)

  • Xerx3s #6 4 years ago

    It's a nice game but by far not as good as some make it out to be. The MP also needs some tweaking and the choice of menu flow is odd in terms of m/m interface rules.

  • TRACTORBOY1971 #7 4 years ago

    Everyones a winner, more console sales, which meanmore quality games will be developed for PS3/Xbox 360.
    Have not been on-line with it yet, can anyone tell me what it is like, I have the 360 version, but if the PS3 is better on-line I might buy the PS3 version as well.

    Any comments please

  • Ryze #8 4 years ago

    Big.

  • Dizzy #9 4 years ago

    Good for everybody.

    "That $50m for the downloadable content not looking like a good investment now - no surprises there. "

    That remains to be seen. Expect a GTA Complete version is shops this XMas ;)

  • BartonFink #10 4 years ago

    Wonder how the 127% and 125% increases in sales for PS3 and 360 translate into number of consoles sold on the strength of the game.

    Go R*

    @lambtron - I am sure you won't be disappointed, I am sure swam will be along shortly.

  • Ryze #11 4 years ago

    360 for online play, but that version is flawed massively, with the game quitting to single player if you can't connect.

    It's also impossible to quit a game and search for a new one without going via a single player load pause and then loading back into multiplayer.

    Silly, and should be patched to put a multiplayer option in the menu like in the PSP games.

    Spectator mode - although great in concept - is broken again, as I've often jumped into a game in progress only to be sat looking at the scoreboard for an entire 2 rounds of cops & crooks, or a full GTA race.

    Broken on purpose? I reckon once online games go pay per play or have some other method of milking the cash, that maybe we'll see more complete online modes.

    edit: 'massively' is a huge overstatement. It's flawed. Once you get into a game - it's amazing with little to no lag.

    Dunno if the PS3 version is even working yet.
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 09:02

  • Olemak #12 4 years ago

    Pretty strong sales. Here in Norway, the game is sold out most places, although some shops still have the Xbox version on shelves. Which should mean that the PS3 version sold better.

    But then again, some shops have reported a problem with deliveries of the PS3 version - that whoever makes the PS3 discs was unable to produce the number of copies projected. I don't know anything more about that - except that I certainly have not been able to score a PS3 hit of GTA 4 so far!

  • Bealsy #13 4 years ago

    So both consoles sold more, both sold lots of games, and it's all fairly equal. Please no arguing for once *gets coat*

  • alimokrane #14 4 years ago

    127% Hardware boost for PS3 compared with the 125% for Xbox 360 - This is very interesting indeed. I mean you think that with the installed base of the 360 in the uk being about twice that of the PS3, the PS3 would see a much bigger jump ion hardware but it seems the two consoles have seen the same bump. Very interesting!

  • TagemandBagem #15 4 years ago

    How many sold in Europe or does UKGamer not care?

  • Dizzy #16 4 years ago

    >How many sold in Europe or does UKGamer not care?

    There are no official numbers for Europe.

  • Lexx87 #17 4 years ago

    3william56....another idiot

  • mcmonkeyplc #18 4 years ago

    PEACE!

  • Wash #19 4 years ago

    Werent both versions constricted by limited supply, anedotal evidence aside "ohh my gameshop had no 360 copies left, must of been the same everywhere :o"

    I know i struggled to get a copy for my 360, and i'm sure many 360 and Ps3 owners got the same problem.

    Good tho, altho the game is very very flawed in certain aspects.

  • Tiger_Walts #20 4 years ago

    I was first a little surprised that the PS3 version sold an amount that isn't too far behind the Xbox 360 one, but I'm even more surprised that the boost to 360 sales matched the boost to PS3 sales. Maybe we'll see a more prolonged effect on the PS3 sales than with the 360, time will tell.

  • Sar #21 4 years ago

    3william56: Sony were crowing the other day about surpassing the 360 installed base in Europe, so surely that means a higher proportion of 360 sales and plainly higher sales of GTA4 period?

  • Razz #22 4 years ago

    It's so funny. The sonybots were saying before release that GTAwqould sell more on the PS3 because people think "playstation" when they think "GTA". Now they're saying that it's obvious that it would sell more on the Xbox as it has a larger installed userbase. Consistency FTW! :D

    I really don't care either way. I'm a Nintendo fan, just funny seeing it happen.

  • stoopidgreg #23 4 years ago

    it deserves to be doing so well, it's a bloody good game.

  • byron_hinson #24 4 years ago

    I think its more telling that there should have been far more sold on the 360 in my view due to the massive advertising Microsoft did for Rockstar - it hasn't turned out that way though as I would have expected a far bigger percentage than has been shown.

  • Emth #25 4 years ago

    I haven't managed a single multi player match that lasted until the end yet, so I'll withhold judgment on it for now. Hopefully they can patch the menu system.

  • SlackMaster #26 4 years ago

    I think though tbh the lay person buying GTA probably doesn't probably know about the DLC.

  • TagemandBagem #27 4 years ago

    The 360/PS3 comparsion was up on gametrailers AGES ago. The carbon dating results aren't back yet. No difference apart from miniscule filtering on the PS3 version...oh and the GETALIFE buildings pop-up during the helicopter run. Hmmmm, coincidence?

  • chrisjm #28 4 years ago

    comparison videos and screenshots ive seen elsewhere its clear what one is ever so slightly better and its the 360 version. however the difference is slight and if you hadnt seen teh comparison you wouldnt even know (or care).

  • Emortal #29 4 years ago

    Everybody is NOT a winner... like the poor sods developing Saint's Row 2 ;)

  • WinterSnowblind #30 4 years ago

    Hey Swam. Didn't you just say the exact opposite in the PS3 topic a few days ago? And I quote:

    "And here's the stats:
    UK Chart Track
    [link url=http://ww w.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gt...
    ]http://ww w.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gt...[/link]

    Day one:
    360 = 55% of GTAIV sales, Ps3 = 45%

    360: 335,000
    PS3: 274,000

    Now take into account the following:

    UK Installed base:
    360 = 2,176,497
    PS3 = 1,190,864

    The Ps3 version sold to just over 1/4 of the entire install base.
    THe 360 version sold to just under 1/6th of the entire install base.

    Therefore, pretty much conclusive proof that people still associate GTAIV with the Playstation.

    I have a feeling MS has wasted £50m."

    Now you're claiming the PS3 is infact selling better than the 360 in the UK. And the fact that the 360 version is outselling the PS3 version by more than a million copies worldwide is apparantly a negligible fact to you?
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 10:26

  • WinterSnowblind #31 4 years ago

    I apologise for updating my post a little late. But your "facts" are definitely being spun to however they best suit you at the time, which alone makes your opinion completely worthless. Your version difference list is also extremely biased, listing small points which may or may not even be true for the PS3 version but leaving pro's off the 360's side. You also completely fail to mention that pop up and load times are so slight on the 360 to begin with, they hardly make a difference.

    Sorry, but if you want to have a real argument you can't be so closed minded and biased towards one system.

  • Scoops #32 4 years ago

    Not bothered about the figures for sales. What got my attention was the realisation GTA:SA was released in 2004!!! Is that right? I had better crack on with it - I have only completed about 30%!!

  • DjFlex52 #33 4 years ago

    What is it with XBOT selective memory for anti-sony facts?

    @swam

    WinterSnowblind is right, swam :)
    What is it with Sonybot, like swam, selective memory for anti-MS facts?

    This game was always a Sony timed exclusive...not anymore.
    IMO, since Sony execs have said that GTA IV is thought of as a Playstation game and the 360 sold just as well as the PS3....MS scored quite well. Just think if GTA IV was a timed exclusive for Sony, they would have raked in.

  • WinterSnowblind #34 4 years ago

    @Swam.

    That was my mistake. What I meant is that you claimed the 360 was selling better in the UK. Not the 360 version of GTA, the console itself. When now you're admitting the PS3 is ahead in the sales.
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 10:44

  • monkie_king #35 4 years ago

    glol @ swam calling "vapourware" on the DLC.

    Is swam headbog, btw?

  • Beano #36 4 years ago

    "Dunno if the PS3 version is even working yet. "

    Its' working fine now - RockStar's lobby servers were busy the first 2-3 days - but I haven't has any problems the last 3-4 days.
    GTA4 online is identical in the two versions so just get the version on the platform which you have most online friends on :)

  • DjFlex52 #37 4 years ago

    Is swam headbog, btw?

    @monkie_king

    yes, it is and I feel partly responsible.
    I told headbog that most people had him on ignore so his bias Sony propaganda wasnt being read and...POOF!...his next message to me was as...(drumroll)...swam.
    He was less annoying as headbog :)

    edit...j/k swam/headbog
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 10:52

  • WinterSnowblind #38 4 years ago

    It didn't seem necessary to point out the 360's flaws to you. :)

    All I was trying to point out, that you're being extremely biased. Yes, the differences are so very slight across the board. But then why does something like the Sixxaxes controller (which you're the first Sonybot I've seen say anything positive about) warrant a mention, but the 360's achievements don't?

  • Tricky #39 4 years ago

    swam is right - the PS3 is currently outselling the 360 on a weekly basis... but by around 4,000 units only. Given that the 360 has just under a 1 million unit greater installed base though, it's going to be a while before the PS3 catches up at that rate.

    Anyway, swam's opinion is pretty null and void - I mean, he actually thought the Haze demo was really good whereas, frankly, it's a big old pile of 'meh'.

  • WinterSnowblind #40 4 years ago

    Perhaps it should be a name for you?

    I'm not ignoring the 360's flaws, or the fact you listed them along with the advantages. My point was that you're ignoring a lot of the 360's other advantages in an attempt to make the PS3 version sound better. Along with your other extremely biased points make your opinion worthless.

    Should I just go ahead and write a second post explaining my underlying point every time I have to say something to you?

  • MAX99 #41 4 years ago

    the reason the ps3 version has higher attachment rate is simple....it lacks the quality and variety of software of the 360.

    therefore ps3 users feel they must buy gta4...a bit like how people in the uk MUST go outside on a sunny day. because they're starved on uv exposure.

    360 users feel more relaxed about passing on gta4 as the software catalogue has matured and there's allot of quality titles out there.

  • Xerx3s #42 4 years ago

    Oh dear, here we go again. How tedious.

  • chrisjm #43 4 years ago

    i've not had any popup at all on 360, maybe the drive brand effects it?

  • mclovin69 #44 4 years ago

    the pop in doesnt seem anywhere near as bad as some of the youtube vids i seen made out-maybe the retail version is a little more stable?

  • lovely2cu #45 4 years ago

    Lol swam's in full SDF damage limitation mode now!

    Xbox 360 sold more GTA and has sold more consoles world wide. Pull as many numbers out of your ass if you like, bottom line is XBOX 360 IS WINNING AGAINST THE PS3!!!11!!``lol!!one!

    (doesn't care either way)

  • L42yB #46 4 years ago

    @swam:
    With barely 100k between the two versions, it is indeed the 360 version that won the day in terms of total sales, but in terms of attach rate, the Ps3 wins.

    The reason the attach rate for this game is higher on the PS3 is because this is one of the only decent games released for that system. Suckers that bought a PS3 can at least relish in the fact that a decent game has finally been released for their hyped up blu-ray player.

    Xbox 360 owners have so many great games to choose from already that they didn't feal as compelled to rush out and by this immedietly.

    (I am joking btw - I just think that one fanboy rant deserves another)

    :)



  • anomagnus #47 4 years ago

    @swam

    firstly, why the fucking hard on for haze? At BEST its a good shooter, but its not a fucking AAA titles system shifter, its just another FPS for fucks sake, why the hard on for it? And face facts, if haze is a success, it WILL be ported to the xbox

    Secondly, you do twist the facts to suit your argument, lets look at your assertation about the DLC as 'vapourware'? Are you smoking crack? Vapourware is something in development for YEARS, often promised, and always delayed. The DLC is due out in a few months, around autumn, which, i think is the same time as say Killzone, or Littlebigplanet, are they vaporware, because they have been announced but not released? Shit, PS Home is more like vapourware

    As for the 100k/20k vs 96k/16k, what a load of fucking toss. Yes the PS is starting to pick up steam, that was always inevitable (pity it took a year) but the key point here is that it is going to take YEARS for their machine to over take the xbox.

    Instead of crowing about how good that is, ask why it took sony, with 11 years in the industry so long, against microsoft, who are only on their second gaming machine, to even begin over taking them

    Seriously, sony have totally fucked their launch of this machine, lost a lot of exclusives, pissed on their install base, and laughed at Europe, giving them gimped machines at twice the price of any other territory, and now rely on brand loyalty to sell their machine, rather than technical and creative ingenuity.

    Lets face it, its MS's second attempt at a gaming machine, they probably wont win the fight, but they've given sony the fucking hammering of a life time

    An dontt even get me started on the 'free' blu ray - that piece of shit is part of the reason the ps3 is so stupidly priced

  • chrisjm #48 4 years ago

    well like i say, ive not had any popup that ive noticed while playing and im about 25 hours in and ive had plenty of high speed driving and hijacked a the boats and helecopters.

  • Tricky #49 4 years ago

    Just to clarify those weekly figures - last week in the UK the PS3 sold 53.5K and the 360 49.5K so it's still a pretty insignificant difference.

    Really though, I care not. It is extremely funny watching you try and rabidly defend the PS3 though and hence easy to poke sticks at you and rile you up even more. :-D

    I've got all three of the current gen consoles so I just pick and choose which games I want and feel no need to defend any format. That said, I'll usually choose the 360 version of a multi-format title simply because the online implementation is far superior, plus I know a shedload more people who own a 360.

    This year's a good 'un for the PS3 though - several decent titles coming (finally) that make me glad that I own one (plus it's the reason I've been able to play Rock Band for the last five months as opposed to having to wait and pay through the arse to get it now).

    But Haze? Solid does not equal spectacular. Maybe if umpteen other FPS games didn't already exist (that trump it spectacularly) then it might warrant some attention. However, for those people who only own a PS3 then I guess I can see why you'd be excited. It's a shame, because I was looking forward to it. Maybe my opinion will change if I get to play the full game, but off the back of the demo... nah.

  • bad09 #50 4 years ago

    "Swam LOL

    Just what do you do in life apart from compile sony sales figures"

    hugs his PS3 and kisses pin-ups of Kaz?

  • t8yman #51 4 years ago

    fucking hell, this thread is a pretty good illustration of why I dont frequent this site half as much as I used to.

    swam/headbog - have you ever sat back and thought what you sound like?

  • dr_faulk #52 4 years ago

    Do those figures include Ireland?

  • stoopidgreg #53 4 years ago

    i said this to my friend on msn:

    'people are talking about how the PS3 version sold almost as many as the 360 one even though the install base for the 360 is almost double. i was going to say "that's because a lot of 360 owners are busy playing all the other great games on the system while this is the PS3's first good game" '

    good thing i didn't actually post it, otherwise i'd get flamed!

  • sergeantdisco #54 4 years ago

    Monica?

    Nice one.

  • WinterSnowblind #55 4 years ago

    "like Free online, built in Blu-Ray, better build quality, etc."

    Those things have nothing to do with the game, where as achievements actually give you a list of goals to atain in the game. I'm not sure how the PS3 having a blu-ray player makes the PS3 version of GTA better. Understand yet, or should I create a little pop up book, with pretty pictures for you?
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 14:07

  • Tricky #56 4 years ago

    Face it swam, anything other than outright praise for the PS3 automatically equals XBOT for you, doesn't it? I mean, never mind that my post was actually pretty balanced and acknowledged that the PS3 has quite a bit going for it this year...

  • DrowJones #57 4 years ago

    The only good game for PS3 and still 3/4 owners haven't bought it. I guess 3/4 PS3 users bought the system just to watch bluray movies then.
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 15:34

  • Amoebalove #58 4 years ago

    @ swam

    You are absolutely hilarious. Keep it up and you may even take apologies crown!
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 16:32

  • Moz #59 4 years ago

    Just a quick note, if VGChartz figures are correct then across europe as a whole the PS3 version out sold the 360 version by about 250,000

  • Madlax #60 4 years ago

    Looks like its 'hacked' swam against the Microsofts Trolls Brigade. (MTB)

    Go Swam Go !!! ;)


  • Apologie #61 4 years ago

    READ... MICROSOFT AT IT'S BEST.

    GTA IV: Xbox vs PlayStation
    Beware the half-truths that Microsoft wants you to believe

    There's been a lot of focus in the last week on Grand Theft Auto IV and which platform it best runs on.

    The majority of people who've played both versions are saying that it runs marginally better on the PS3, but the findings are inconclusive at best: both are equally good in our eyes.

    What's interesting to me at the moment is how Microsoft is attempting to use GTA as a PR exercise to boast about the Xbox 360 console and its success.

    We received an unbelievable and outrageous press release today from Microsoft UK saying:

    "Gamers have voted with their wallets, and the results are in. The Xbox 360 version of 'Grand Theft Auto IV' has sold more than 100,000 copies, or 20 per cent more than the PlayStation 3 version in the UK since the game's release last Tuesday 29 April."

    Exaggeration and hyperbole

    The release then sees Microsoft rambling on and on, mostly just patting itself on the back about selling more copies and going on about how the Xbox 360 is the premium platform for enjoying GTA. Blah, blah, blah.

    Please excuse me briefly while I pause to be sick.

    Here's the point: there are more Xbox 360 consoles out there (it launched over a year earlier) so straight numbers are a terrible way of looking at the market. The Xbox 360 version of GTA IV sold 20 per cent more copies than the PS3 version. And that's despite the fact that there are almost twice as many Xbox 360 consoles in the wild in the UK, compared to PS3s.

    Crunch the numbers

    So, relatively speaking, for Microsoft to brag about doing better than Sony, it would need to sell almost twice as many copies of the game, too. But it didn't. And as such, the numbers say that per-console, the PS3 version has actually done a bit better.

    "Data released by ELSPA/Chart-Track shows Xbox 360 Week One sales at 514,000 copies sold in the UK. PlayStation 3 version of the game sold only 413,000 copies, clearly demonstrating that gamers prefer the Xbox 360 version," says the Microsoft press release progaganda exercise.

    What a load of complete rubbish, Microsoft!

    Let's do the maths. 413,000 PS3 copies of GTA IV divided by the 1.2m PS3 consoles sold in the UK, equates to about 0.3 copies sold per console. So basically one in three UK PS3 owners have bought GTA IV in the last seven days.

    Compare that to the 514,000 Xbox 360 copies sold in the UK, divided by the 2.2m consoles in circulation. It amounts to 0.23 copies per console. So about one in four Xbox 360 owners bought the game. Comparatively LESS than the PS3 version.

    It's all a load of smoke and mirrors nonsense. Everyone is up to it - it's not just Microsoft.

    This is an absolutely textbook example of a big company spouting a load of dingo's kidneys in order to promote itself.

    http://ww w.techradar.com/blogs/article/g...

    JUST another LIE...

  • Amoebalove #62 4 years ago

    @ swam

    i take it back. the crown stays firmly on apologies wooden head!

  • spookyzombie #63 4 years ago

    I don't read too much into those sales figures as the 360 version has been out of stock for most of last week (certainly in our store and other stores and supermarkets around us). There's been loads and loads of people asking to buy the 360 version, while the PS3 counterpart has been readily available since launch. This is of course just a trend for my area.