Grand Theft Auto: thunder, stolen
Mr. Softy may still be tone-deaf, but the old man hasn’t lost his timing. A holiday ship date virtually guarantees sales will be better than they might be otherwise.
If only Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) could say the same: The company’s Rockstar Games subsidiary plans to ship Grand Theft Auto V in September, and for current-generation consoles only.
Rockstar probably didn’t have much of a choice. As the developer says at its site, GTA V is a “massively ambitious and complex game.” So even if Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) sent out tools for writing new games to the Xbox One and PS4 months ago, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) was probably too far into the development process to do anything other than to keep writing and testing the game for existing consoles.
Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE), for its part, is helping by offering what amounts to a consolation prize: a special GTA V bundle that pairs a 500 GB PlayStation 3 console with the Blu-ray edition of the game. A separate “pulse” headset for experiencing top-quality audio during key moments in the game retails for $179.
Will gamers buy? No doubt. Grand Theft Auto is a multibillion-dollar franchise, just like the Xbox. Flubs — even big ones — won’t keep them from selling both in substantial quantities. But here, “substantial” may not be enough to create the sort of profit growth Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) investors are seeking.
What surprised you at E3? Are you more or less interested in Microsoft and Take-Two stock at current prices? Let us know what you think using the comments box below.
The article How Sony Stole From Apple, and Other Big Stories From E3 originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Tim Beyers is a member of the Motley Fool Rule Breakers stock-picking team and the Motley Fool Supernova Odyssey I mission. He owned shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), and Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX) at the time of publication. Check out Tim’s Web home and portfolio holdings, or connect with him on Google+, Tumblr, or Twitter, where he goes by @milehighfool. You can also get his insights delivered directly to your RSS reader.The Motley Fool recommends Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO), and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) and owns shares of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), GameStop, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS).
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