Being stuck at home during a COVID-19 related lockdown can be tough for many, though the ensuing boredom has seemingly helped spark 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 that Grand Theft Auto 5 sold almost 439k physical and download copies during the March 23 to June 13 lockdown period, behind only Call of Duty: Modern Warfare with just under 475k, and FIFA 20 with 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 only Minecraft in 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.
The UK really does love Grand 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.
The continuing success of Grand Theft Auto 5 and Grand Theft Auto Online shows 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. While some 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 dampen the huge anticipation and expectation for Grand 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 5 is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with release on PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X expected for late 2021.
Source: ERA
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