GTA IV sales hit 17m

As well as confirming the Red Dead series’ status as one of the modern games industry’s big-hitters, publisher Take Two has also updated investors on the latest sales successes of its other blockbuster IP.

2008 release Grand Theft Auto IV has now sold over 17m copies worldwide, meaning that in Q2 2010 alone the game has sold around 2m units – very impressive for a title entering its third year on the market.

The game will still have its work cut out if it is to eventually topple San Andreas from the current GTA throne. The third PS2 GTA outing is amongst the best ever sellers in both the UK and US and boasts lifetime sales of 21.5m.

In addition, Take Two has confirmed plans to release GTA: Chinatown Wars on the iPad. Though the handheld-only GTA outing wowed critics on DS, PSP and iPhone, CEO Ben Feder admitted to MCV last month that piracy had dented sales.