GTA IV May Be Delayed, Says Analyst. One Reason: Halo 3

Michael Pachter, a research analyst for Wedbush Morgan, issued a note to investors today, forecasting a delay of Grand Theft Auto IV.

The first reason Pachter alludes to is the fact that the game is currently schedule for release on October 16, a few days before the end of Take Two’s fiscal year. Pachter speculates that pushing back the game’s release a couple of weeks will have a significant impact on fiscal 2008 financials. The new management in charge of Take-Two needs to show the publisher’s investors it can do better than the predecessors it kicked out.

The second reason Pacther refers to is Halo 3.

No one would have ever thought that Microsoft could release the third installment in the Halo series outside its traditional November launch window. Now, with a confirmed Sept. 25 release date, Halo 3 has changed the plans of many publishers, including Take-Two and its Rockstar Games division.

Pachter believes that pushing back the release of GTA IV a couple of weeks will be beneficial for both titles.

Furthermore, Pachter speculates that Take-Two could release the GTA IV Special Edition on the originally planned date and push back the standard edition a couple of weeks. That would certainly be a smart move from a financial perspective but it could also upset gamers.

Does Pacter know something we don’t or if this just pure speculation? We’ll certainly find out at next month’s E3 expo if not earlier.