Take-Two CEO admits Grand Theft Auto downloadable content released too late

Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City wasn’t nearly as big a hit as Take-Two Interactive anticipated, despite being installments in one of gaming’s biggest franchises. =

The double-pack of downloadable content didn’t crack the Top 10 on NPD’s sales charts in October or November 2009. During the company’s quarterly conference call with investors, Take-Two CEO Ben Feder fielded a question about the lackluster sales performance of both The Lost and The Damned as well as The Ballad of Gay Tony. Feder acknowledged the timing was off:

“Both were released significantly after the launch of the core unit,” Feder said. “And therefore weren’t able to leverage GTA 4′s initial marketing campaign and initial launch fervor.”

What Take-Two apparently has learned here is that even a blockbuster franchise can fall off the radar, especially during the crowded holiday season. One of the important things to do is give consumers new stuff while the original game is still spinning in their consoles. And no matter how awesome the DLC, there will be millions of gamers who aren’t interested. =’

New content for GTA IV simply doesn’t have the sales “oomph” that GTA V will.

Read [Joystiq] Also Read [VG Chartz]