By Aditya Soni
(Reuters) -Rockstar Games lined up its much-awaited "Grand Theft Auto VI" for a 2025 launch in the first trailer for the videogame, disappointing some investors who expected the latest installment of the best-selling franchise to release sooner.
Shares of parent Take-Two (NASDAQ:TTWO) Interactive Software, which have rallied 50% this year, fell nearly 2% on Tuesday.
The trailer featured a "Bonnie and Clyde"-like duo blitzing their way through a fictional version of Miami, Florida, called "Vice City". It was released on Monday, ahead of its planned early Tuesday reveal after a version leaked on social media.
"As typical first trailers go, it does not show much other than setting the scene, incredible graphic fidelity and hinting at the game play," said Jefferies analyst Andrew Uerkwitz.
"There is still no exact release date, so fears of a delay into holiday 2025 ... will immediately ensue."
Take-Two's financial year runs from April to March and a delay beyond that period could push the sales of the games to fiscal 2026.
"A February/March 2025 release date could indeed deliver Take-Two's guidance of about $8 billion in bookings in financial year 2025 and growth in 2026," Uerkwitz said.
The "GTA VI" trailer has been viewed nearly 60 million times on YouTube in 10 hours since its launch and the game will be available on Sony (NYSE:SONY)'s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)'s Xbox Series X and S consoles.
Take-Two did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the game's launch on PC and PlayStation 4.
"GTA VI" is likely to be an instant hit. The previous installment is among the most successful games ever with around $7.68 billion in sales since it was first launched in 2013.
Analysts expect more on "GTA VI", including pricing and its potential online multiplayer version, to be revealed in 2024.