Grand Theft Auto V was released today across the world, finally relieving the desires of eager gamers. The game, which has proved one of the world’s most popular and influential series since the release of GTA 3 in 2001, may become the best selling game of all time, and some analysts think it might be the worlds first to hit $1 billion in sales.
The current best-selling game of all time is, according to Bloomberg, GTA IV, the predecessor to GTA V. Naming conventions in the gaming world, as well as elsewhere in technology, are not exactly informative. GTA V is the seventh major game in the series. The game was released on Xbox 360 and PS3 today, and it will be released on the next generation of consoles, the Xbox One and PS4 after they become available in November.
GTA V and money in gaming
Despite the massive size of the gaming industry, and the usual margins on popular software, it can be very difficult for game makers to make reasonable profits on their offerings. The area is competitive and costs have been spiraling upward for years.
Rockstar, the company behind GTA V, is thought to have spent around $250 million developing and marketing the game. The company will spend more than that to keep the game updated and running for years ahead.
GTA V is a gold standard in the industry because it is the latest entry in a franchise known for its penchant for pushing the technical and creative standards of gaming. The game is also known for the controversy it causes. GTA V will be violent and it will be full of adult themes.
The game will likely be a catalyst for sales of the new consoles Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Sony Corporation (NYSE:SNE) will release in November. Sales of console games have been falling off in recent months because of the incoming technical improvements.
GTA V sales
Not many games companies have franchises that earn like GTA does, and GTA V is expected to be the biggest yet. Rockstar, who makes the game, is owned by Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO). The company’s shares have risen by more than 8 percent in the last three months, but took a tumble in trading today.
GTA V is the kind of game that many studios wish they could make. There is little restriction on budget compared to other games, and developers were led by auteur brothers Dan and Sam Houser, who founded Rockstar and have worked with the series since its first incarnation.
Gaming is a complicated industry, and many fans of more serious titles are concerned that the money has flown out of major games and into the hands of mobile developers. As Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA) will testify, mobile games are not a recipe for success either. GTA V will likely be successful, and it may be the most successful game of all time, but that doesn’t mean the games industry is saved.
Gamers and developers cannot follow in the footsteps of gods wholly. In the gaming world, GTA V is the closest anything comes to the divine.
