As one of the most decorated game studios on the planet, Rockstar Games’ ability to create mega-successful franchises is second to none. With five iconic GTA games and two Red Dead Redemption games under its belt, Rockstar is set to send shockwaves throughout the industry yet again next year with the highly-anticipated GTA 6.
However, while the next chapter of GTA is being worked on, demand for Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 is still going strong. Take-Two Interactive, the owner of Rockstar Games, recently held an earnings call for Q3 2024 where they updated the sales figures for the franchises, which are frankly astonishing.
Red Dead Redemption 2’s earnings
According to Take-Two, the Red Dead Redemption series has sold over 86 million units worldwide, with RDR 2 accounting for 61 million units from that figure. This update further strengthened its position as Rockstar’s second best-selling game, as well as the seventh best-selling game of all time.
For most single-player games in the industry, let alone a story-heavy, mature game like RDR 2, these statistics are unheard of. However, this is a drop in the bucket compared to the bonkers numbers that the GTA franchise is pulling.
Grand Theft Auto 5 is Rockstar’s best-selling game so far
Grand Theft Auto 5 has been on the market for over a decade. Even though it’s been updated over the years and made its way onto the latest current-gen consoles, the game’s age still shows. But, such is the power of the GTA name that it has managed to sell over 195 million copies to date, with 5 million of them from the last quarter.
GTA 5 is the second best-selling game of all time, and the entire franchise currently sits at over 420 million copies sold. These numbers are a testament to how much of a juggernaut the series is, and how we’re not ready for the success GTA 6 will accrue. Speaking of which…
A Small GTA 6 Tease?
While Take-Two didn’t provide any new information for Grand Theft Auto 6, they did provide some insight about the long-awaited title’s first reveal in December. While speaking about the success of the franchise, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said that GTA 6‘s announcement sparked excitement for the entire series, and acted as a “halo effect” for other Grand Theft Auto games, leading to an uptick in sales. When asked about a release window for the game, Zelnick said, “We’re seeking perfection, and when we feel we’ve optimized creatively, that’s the time to release”.
However, analysts noticed that Take-Two reduced their earnings guidance for FY2025 (April 2024 to March 2025) from $8 billion to $7 billion. The $1 billion drop could be a sign that GTA 6 slipped out of an internally-targeted Q1 2025 release window, and will release after March next year. Either way, fans are brimming with excitement, and Grand Theft Auto 6 will certainly smash the records its predecessors set.
