Being stuck at home during a COVID-19 related lockdown can be tough for many, though the ensuing boredom has seemingly helpedspark increased gaming time and sales of video games across the world. Many new and recent games have benefited from stronger sales, but one of the biggest winners is almost seven years old:Grand Theft Auto 5. Indeed, the game has performed so well in the UK, that it was the third highest selling game of the lockdown period, and the fifth highest selling entertainment product.
The data from the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) shows thatGrand Theft Auto 5sold almost 439k physical and download copies during the March 23 to June 13 lockdown period, behind onlyCall of Duty: Modern Warfarewith just under 475k, andFIFA 20with over 506k. The game has remained the highest selling game of all-time in the UK since 2014, and has now sold a staggering 135 million copies worldwide, putting it behind onlyMinecraftin the all time global sales charts. These figures mean it has sold over a hundred million more copies than the second best-selling game in the series,Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
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The UK really does loveGrand Theft Auto 5, as the aging title was also the biggest selling game there in both January and February 2020, according to sales data from GSD. Perhaps more surprising, is that these numbers are in addition to the hugely successful Epic Games Store promotion which gave the game away for free in May.
It appears thatGrand Theft Auto 5’s popularity is not going anywhere, especially as the multiplayer componentGrand Theft Auto Onlineis performing well too, breaking the 200k peak concurrent players mark for the first time in December 2019, and reaching a record high of 267k in February 2020.Grand Theft Autois by no means the only beneficiary of the lockdown though.Microsoft reported increased Xbox sales and subscriptions, games such asAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsperformed beyond expectations, and player numbers jumped on many online multi-player games such asCounter StrikeandRocket League.
The continuing success ofGrand Theft Auto 5andGrand Theft Auto Onlineshows why Rockstar Games is in no hurry to release the follow up, particularly given the existing titles are due to be released on the next generation consoles in late 2021. Whilesome rumors suggest a Vice City themed sequel is in the works, and that Sony are in negotiations for timed exclusivity on the PlayStation 5, gamers are unlikely to hear any official news for some time.
However, the lack of news will be unlikely to dampenthe huge anticipation and expectation forGrand Theft Auto 6, but Rockstar will have to work very hard if it wants to top the continuing success of the fifth game in the series.
Grand Theft Auto 5is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with release on PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X expected for late 2021.
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