Wed, Aug 10, 2011 | 08:41 BST

Pachter: Grand Theft Auto V could sell 24 million units

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter has said that Grand Theft Auto V could sell 18 million units, as well as going on to sell as much as 24 million units.

Pachter said that sales will help Take Two shares go over the magic $2 barrier, something that T2 CEO Strauss Zelnick was touchy upon when asked about that and the next GTA by an analyst during the company’s Q1 financial call on Monday.

“We expect the next Grand Theft Auto to sell at least 18 million units, representing a 20% attach rate to the estimated 2011 year-end installed base of PS3 and Xbox 360 in the U.S. and Europe. At this level, we estimate that Grand Theft Auto will generate at least $2.65/share in incremental EPS, making Take-Two’s forecast of ‘in excess’ of $2.00 per share in earnings during FY:13 easily attainable,” Pachter said in a note.

“Should the game sell 24 million units (in line with its historical attach rate), we expect contribution of more than $4.00 per share in incremental EPS. Importantly, the company has a history of providing conservative guidance, and without a GTA game in FY:13, we would not expect management to be so bold as to guide to earnings over $2.00.”

The next GTA installment has been rumoured for yoinks now, but nothing has materialised.

Thanks, IG.

10 comments

Maximum Payne
10/08/11, 9:02 am

I don’t think so, Tim.

Mondayding
10/08/11, 10:32 am

How does he get paid for saying this? More to the point, why am I not getting paid to say stuff like this?

I’ll try it now: Battlefield 3 could sell 50 million.

Anybody need my paypal details?

Blerk
10/08/11, 10:33 am

Just for once I’d like him to say “metric fuck-tonne” rather than make up a number. Go on, Michael! Be a sport.

David Klouda
10/08/11, 10:35 am

Well, sales of GTA IV reached over 20 million sold copies this March, so I think, it´s not impossible.

Golden
10/08/11, 12:24 pm

GTA V announcement at Gamescom? Maybe its just not flashy enough for Rockstar.

Clupula
10/08/11, 12:24 pm

Since Pachter is never right about anything, I’d guess that this means GTAV will be the first real flop of the series.

Johnny Cullen
10/08/11, 12:27 pm

@5 Not in a million years. E3 or nothing.

Erthazus
10/08/11, 12:33 pm

E3 is not too flashy for GTA 5

GTA 5 is bigger then E3 or Gamescom. They are going to reveal it somehow on it’s own.

corneliusw
10/08/11, 3:06 pm

i typed in http://GTAV.com and apparently its an official fan site for gta v or something. they have information up on the game.

i think GTA V will do more than 24 million units. its a huge series, and gamers are looking for something different instead of the tired call of duty year after year.

#10

The_Deleted
10/08/11, 3:59 pm

Is he taking into account all the people who thought GTAIV was as dull as shit? ‘cus that’s going to account for about 15 million.