GTAIV PS3 outselling 360 version 3 to 1 at Asda

by Jem Alexander { Apr 23rd 2008 at 1:00PM }

Duncan Cross, head of games for British Supermarket Asda, has told MCV that Grand Theft Auto IV has "generated great interest on the Asda website, with strong pre-orders, and the PS3 version is selling three times that of 360, which is surprising." It surprises us too, but in a good way. Like when you look in your wallet expecting to find it empty and see a crisp tenner. That sort of surprise.

Comet's game representative also told MCV that they "have great expectations and believe [GTA IV] is going to be a massive hardware driver – especially on PS3." We hope they're right. As soon as we hear any interesting sales figures after the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV we'll be sure to let you know. In the meantime, you can rest assured that the game is selling amazingly with regards to pre-orders and most stores are already out of their initial allocations of stock.

[Via CVG]

Tags: grand-theft-auto-4, grand-theft-auto-iv, gta4, gtaiv, mcv

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

xXShadowSlayerXx @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:20PM

More people associate Grand Theft Auto with the Playstation. Besides, the Dualshock controller has always suited the GTA franchise.

TORO @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:44PM

360 fanboy here, I disagree on your controller comment...I think our controller will be just fine ;)

7 more days!

adolson @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:16PM

360 hater here, and I disagree too. :) I think 360 owners prefer their controlers and it's really a non-issue. It's not like they're trying to play Guitar Hero with a DDR mat or something.. It's a controller with analog sticks and buttons... Same thing, different arrangement. Preference.

Dahk @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:06PM

Problem is, everyone with the 360 controller including fanboys hate the d-pad =P.

Several really funny articles and long explanations about their d-pad.

Mein Bratwurst @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:27PM

IMO the ONLY advantage that a 360 controller has over the dualshock/SIXAXIS is the joysticks. Other than that, Dualshock is far superior.

Pip @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:34PM

I'd take a crummy 360 D-Pad over the DS3 D-Pad any day of the week. Separate buttons? Are you kidding me? Diagonals are a pain in the butt. I can at least do them on the 360.

I'll take the Logitech PS2 controller with rumble over anything out today. Can't wait for their PS3 controller with rumble.

BrokenMonkey @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:08PM

You don't even need the d-pad for anything important in GTA IV, so why bicker about it? I've never heard of Asda but the 360 version is outselling the PS3 version on Amazon. And I think we all agree that Amazon counts for more internet sales than just about anyone else.

adolson @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:16PM

I think Michael Pacther was right... GTAIV will push hardware for Sony, but not Microsoft. Most people who were going to buy the 360 already bought it for Halo 3. Sure, some people will get a 360 just for GTAIV, but not near the number of PS2 owners who, up until now, have had very little incentive to make the upgrade. Should be interesting to see how Sony's stock holds up in stores in the next few months, with two huge games releasing about a month and a half apart like this.

Fiddlesworth @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:22PM

Have you seen how well Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is continuing to sell? Looks like a LOT of people are buying PS3's, many in the GT5P bundle, ready for Grand Theft Auto IV.

leobebes @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:38PM

Guys, seriously there is no way that GTA IV is going to sell more on the PS3 than the 360. I can buy the argument it might have a higher attach ratio than the 360 and we can continue to speculate on that, but to the higher install base on the 360 there will be a guaranteed 6 million copies sold on the 360 which would be at a 30% clip based on their overall sales, the PS3 which has so far sold 12 million units would have to have a 50% attachment rate to have GTA IV selling at 6 million units. Highly unlikely, coupled with the economy there is no way GTA IV sells too many PS3's just for the GTA IV.

Colin Evans @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:59PM

This only concerns Europe who love Sony. As a Brit, I see this everyday, we associate GTA to the Playstation and I know many people who have yet to purchase a PS3, deciding to do so now that GT5P and GTA have arrived.

Then of course there is MGS4, which will also sell well.

In the US, you guys just eat up everything Microsoft throw at you. We do the opposite.

Sony have Europe and Japan.
Microsoft have the US.

never$$hort @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:02PM

"In the US, you guys just eat up everything Microsoft throw at you."

Not all of us guys do... just the ignorant, stupid ones!

;)

BrokenMonkey @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:12PM

I think you mean the ones that actually like to enjoy their consoles not jerk off to how powerful Sony tells everyone it is.

never$$hort @ Apr 24th 2008 4:22AM

The hate is strong within you, 360 troll... haha

Ninjakamster @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:41PM

Europe sure is a large market for the PS3.
I think it would have been better if Sony launched the PS3 in Europe first and America months later, not the other way around since they like it more than us American do. : (

John @ Apr 23rd 2008 9:27PM

nah... I think it was right to do it this way, the expectation, and all... although I also think they would get the same numbers this way as what you have proposed, just slower. In Europe, this summer and fall there will be a huge increase in ps3 numbers. Introducing it earlier would have just made the ramp more gradual, resulting in similar final numbers. The ps3 is to Europe what the Commodore 64 was. Europeans do their research and they like good equipment.

Glen @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:43PM

The only place I think people are expecting the 360 version of GTA IV to outsell the PS3 version is in America.

MikeDawg @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:46PM

Another selling point is the fact that the PS3 has a built in hard drive. Some 360 models dont come with a hard drive so the GTA games for all 360 models dont have the manadantory install that PS3 has.
This may sound like a negative for PS3 owners but if you you look at the recent comment made by Rockstar President Sam Houser, then you will see that the 5 minute install is not so bad after all.

"One of the problems with the 360, and it affects games like Grand Theft Auto if you think about how much content we put in the actual machine, is the fact that they don't have a significantly larger storage medium than the previous systems. It's a slightly bigger DVD disc"
"In retrospect I wish Microsoft had made the choice to have [mandatory] hard drives like Sony did with the PS3," he said. "Developers certainly benefit [from a hard drive]. If you have a hard drive, the whole game loads faster. Obviously you'll be facing a short install time, but the developer benefits from it and you definitely benefit from it as a player. So I think that was one of the mistakes that Microsoft made with the 360."

Dave Comeau @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:58PM

I'm in Canada, and when I pre-ordered the game at EB Games, the chick told me that she was getting way more orders for the PS3 version...she was very surprised.

never$$hort @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:59PM

Several Articles have begun springing up throughout the web now and I can forsee this being a major issue for 360 users.

Microsoft in GTA IV panic
Will Rockstar’s big gun decide the console war?

http://www.gameplayer.com.au/Home/FEATURES/FEATURE/tabid/1488/Default.aspx?CID=0320aba1-b135-4bc0-a44b-a668010c170e

Microsoft facing GTA IV Disaster
Make, or Break, for the Xbox 360

http://www.gameplayer.com.au/Home/FEATURES/FEATURE/tabid/1488/Default.aspx?CID=0771f70d-dd45-4de6-9ab2-6899f3aeab8b&v7Pager=1

Frosty22 @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:09PM

Umm... so you do know that website is an Australian-based website, right? When you read those articles, read them in the Aussie context. Damn globalization...

never$$hort @ Apr 24th 2008 4:18AM

what's that supposed to mean? f***ing racist tard! haha

Raheem @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:00PM

Seems GAME in the UK have spares of GTA IV on PS3 and are not promising spares on the 360 (preorders sold out). As the largest retailer in Europe, I'd be more inclined to trust their levels than ASDA, a supermarket.

CL34N3R @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:09PM

It's funny, xbox360fanboy.com almost never mentions the PS3, but on here the 360 is mentioned almost as often as the PS3! Guess us 360 fans have almost forgotten there's another console out there.

This post is too bright, can you sheep dim it down a bit?

JAH75157 @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:36PM

yet you continue to lurk here with your friends.

it's ok pheasant soon you will all have playstations.

CL34N3R @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:34PM

I do have a PS3, why do you think I'm here?

JaseH @ Apr 24th 2008 7:09AM

"Guess us 360 fans have almost forgotten there's another console out there."

Yep, you have a PS3 alright!

/Rolls eyes.

_______________________________________
JaseH.

CL34N3R @ Apr 24th 2008 8:16AM

What kind of proof do you want mr. eye roller? A friend request?

PS3FanxD @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:51PM

Well, we aren't really bashing the 360, just saying that it is a good sign that the PS3 version is selling well. Besides, maybe because xbox360fanboy.com is too busy with Halo 3 and COD4 which I always see 2-3 posts each page almost every time to be bother by anything else. ;P.

Dahk @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:12PM

"It surprises us too, but in a good way. Like when you look in your wallet expecting to find it empty and see a crisp tenner. That sort of surprise."

Haha. The best is... I took out my spring jacket that i haven't used since last year. Found a FIFTY in there. I suddenly felt so rich. S'like it was compelling me to buy another DS3.

jojo29 @ Apr 25th 2008 10:59AM

"Guys, seriously there is no way that GTA IV is going to sell more on the PS3 than the 360. I can buy the argument it might have a higher attach ratio than the 360 and we can continue to speculate on that, but to the higher install base on the 360 there will be a guaranteed 6 million copies sold on the 360 which would be at a 30% clip based on their overall sales, the PS3 which has so far sold 12 million units would have to have a 50% attachment rate to have GTA IV selling at 6 million units. Highly unlikely, coupled with the economy there is no way GTA IV sells too many PS3's just for the GTA IV"
"
Its funny you say this, because the last big game Devil May Cry, came out on both consoles and the 360 BARELY outsold the PS3, version, despite having more consoles out htere....

Mooseman721 @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:34PM

@ JAH75157

Did you really mean Pheasants? :)

FreshJulius @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:34PM

Of course he did, he was extending the metaphor presented initially... Everyone knows sheep rule pheasants.

Duh.

Nerdkiller @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:45PM

It seems like history on PS2 has once again won over RROD (no offence, only Xbots who don't know jack s*it about gaming differennces).

Nerdkiller @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:02PM

http://ps3.kombo.com/article.php?artid=6694

It basicly says that GTA V may be too large for the 360.

Bucfann @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:21PM

Funny stuff. How many topics turn into a 360 haters gathering? Geez, some of you really are pathetic. Even when the 360 isnt mentioned in the topic, you guys still bring up the 360.
The PS3 version is not going to outsell the 360 version here in the US. And maybe not in Britain, ASDA is a supermarket and seriously, I wouldnt count on the PS3 blowing away the 360 in GTA sales over there either until it happens off of what a super market says.

Bucfann @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:24PM

It did outsell. And I dont think there was that big of interest in the game once it was close to being released. The reviews werent great on the game. If it was a blockbuster title everyone wanted, such as this, the 360 wouldve done much better and the margin of victory wouldve been broader.

Fraser JK @ Apr 23rd 2008 5:10PM

When it comes to the controllers... no way you'll get me to play on the 360's cuz I've been playing this game since GTA2 includind the Stories on PSP... so my hands are formed in that Dualshock way. Still the 360's controller has nothing wrong with it, it's just what you are used to!

Fraser JK @ Apr 23rd 2008 5:10PM

redbrick @ Apr 23rd 2008 7:29PM

After all the reading...I have this to say. I think it's unfortunate that this game had to go multi-platform. If I had to guess, I'd say the PS3 version could've been a better game if the Xbox360 did not exist. Because it does..... the PS3 is limited by the Xbox's hardware abilities only because a status quo of balance must be maintained between the two systems. This game is only going to be as good as the least capable 'next gen' console. With that...I think I'll wait for the PC version where the competition is only limited by your hardware abilities.

BrokenMonkey @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:10PM

If that's true then why the hell did the PS3 version DELAY the release of GTA IV when the 360 version was done long ago? They spent all that time polishing the 360 version and making DLC when they were still finishing the PS3 version. I think the PS3 is holding GTA IV back.

redbrick @ Apr 24th 2008 12:41AM

Brokenmonkey: I don't think you're understanding my point....re-evaluate my comments.

Here's a hint...I'm not talking about release schedule. I'm talking about taking advantage of the PS3 technology for the best gaming experience. If I had to guess....total disk content will not fill up the 50GB BR disk, if the game has to fit on a standard DVD. Imagine if it did....forget DLC....

John @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:24PM

After reading the interview, I'm very excited about this game, where I was not, before. This game may be a visionary experience that transports the gaming world to a whole new level, with new expectations, if they manage to pull off what he's talking about. This may be the Citizen Kane of this generation, seriously.

player-who-plays @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:26PM

You are hilarious. but i can understand. I mean last generation after the xbox released i forgot it existed(for 3yrs), never knew about halo until last yr and still dont know wat it looks like. So i understand ur comment, but console dominence is yet to be determined. The ps3 still has a chance.

ps a lot of ppl i know are randomly giving up ther xbox 360's for a ps3. I am rlly confused y but am glad to see it happen.