Take-Two Interactive Software is on the move this holiday season. Earlier this week, the company announced a release date for Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, and on Wednesday it inked a deal with the developers of the series. But its earnings report gave investors cause for concern.
The company signed a new long-term employment agreement with Rockstar Games, the studio behind the blockbuster Grand Theft Auto video-game franchise. That deal, which runs through Jan. 31, 2012, means key Rockstar executives Sam Houser, Dan Houser, and Leslie Benzies will continue to develop new titles for the smash series under the umbrella of Take-Two.
Take-Two also agreed to fund the future development of new intellectual property to be owned by a newly formed company that key Rockstar Games team members will control. The new games will be published exclusively by Take-Two. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
What was disclosed is the release date for the much-anticipated Take-Two title Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the Nintendo DS. Chinatown Wars will be available for the Nintendo DS on March 17 and 20, 2009, in North America and Europe, respectively.
“Rockstar Leeds [has] once again created a game that far exceeds our standard for deep and innovative entertainment,” said Houser, founder of Rockstar Games. “We are incredibly excited to share this enormous and uncompromising Grand Theft Auto experience with DS fans.”
The reviews are already flooding in. Edge Magazine asked, “How does Rockstar follow Grand Theft Auto IV? By rebuilding Liberty City from the ground up on DS — and not compromising its vision one iota.” And Nintendo Power added, “… it’s undeniable that Chinatown Wars is doing something no other DS game has come close to: Creating that living, breathing world the Grand Theft Auto games are known for.”
A Fiscal Bloodbath
Although Take-Two Interactive…