GTA IV: Launch Date is April 25th

A North American stock-trading website called Tradingmarkets is carrying the news that Grand Theft Auto IV is "...scheduled to reach retailers in April". When combined with an independent third-party source who has contacted SPOnG, we would actually place the release date as Friday April 25th.

This would also agree with UK industry journal, MCV's report from December last year stating the date of April 25th - which is also the also last day in Take Two's fiscal fourth quarter.

MCV's report was classified by a Rockstar spokesman as, "rumour and speculation" at the time.

Here's what the Tradingmarkets says in full: "Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO) and the video game industry seem to have survived the holiday season relatively unscathed. The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto IV is scheduled to reach retailers in April and will certainly give a boost to 2008. However, the company is no longer dependent solely on the success of its key franchises such as Grand Theft. In 2007, 27% of revenues came from the top ten games versus 50% in 2005."

We are also informed, "Additionally, on Jan 8, Take-Two acquired Illusion Softworks, a Czech Republic game developer of franchises such as Mafia, Hidden Dangerous and Vietcong, for undisclosed terms. The covering analysts are mixed on the 2008 outlook with four analysts bullish on the company in the last month, raising 2008 estimates by an average of 11 cents from 91 cents to $1.02 and one lowering estimates. Read the Nov 16, 2007 analysis".

We can, of course, be sure that the second piece of information is true - as we ran the story on January 8th. There is also no reason for a stock advisory site to play the release-date game.

A quick glance at Amazon in the USA shows April 30th as the release date - however, a Wednesday is an unusual day for release of such a huge title.

As we go to press, GAME in the UK's firm date of 25th April is stated in fact as 25th April on PlayStation 3. Strangely, the Xbox 360 release date is stated as April 1st on the same site.

We have contacted Rockstar for comment and will report back forthwith.

^{See: Tradingmarkets}