Grand Theft Auto 5 has beaten all global sales records to become the biggest entertainment launch ever, generating $800million revenue in its first 24 hours. Whilst most of us were simply astonished by these figures, Peter Molyneux is unimpressed.
Speaking at Mobile Entertainment’s Top 50 Mobile Innovators party last night, the 22 Cans founder discussed Grand Theft Auto V.
“You can hardly avoid it.,” he said. “It will achieve around $1 billion in revenue on consoles in just one month. Sounds impressive, doesn’t it? No. That’s not impressive.”
It’s not? Care to enlighten us Mr Molyneux?
“What is outstandingly impressive is the success of mobile companies like Supercell, who has released games including Hay Day and Clash of Clans. Those games, which were released 18 months ago, are achieving revenue between $3 million and $5 million each day. That is impressive.”
Well yes, yes it is, but that does not take anything away Grand Theft Auto’s numbers. I wonder if Peter knows many downloads the iFruit GTA companion app has racked up over the last 24 hours?
Outspoken Molyneux famously left Microsoft and AAA development  last year to form indie studio 22 Cans.
“That bastard Steve Jobs stood up on stage and changed my life forever with a flick of a screen. I realised then that the most innovational thing that you can do is change the way people interact with entertainment,” he said.
Source: Mobile-Entertainment
webby_15-0
I really do dislike Peter Molyneux.
Bilbo_bobbins
god this man is a fuckwit and a half.
duke
I couldn’t have put it better myself.
Jimster71
He is speaking at a Mobile Innovators conference that we would never of heard of if he hadn’t made a quote like that.
3shirts
Exactly right. He had to say something a bit controversial and it makes sence to comment on the biggest gaming news of the moment. Very contrived and cheap Mr Molyneux.
You used to be cool
2ofclubs
What an idiot. So he’s comparing two completely separate platforms i.e. microtransactions and a retail release. No they might not make the same amount but they aren’t designed on the same business model so of course they won’t. I was never a fan of him but he seems to make things worse all the time.
Amphlett
I can see what Grandpa means about the new new game types changing the industry but honestly, I think nurse needs to offer some medication if he’s not impressed with GTA V sales figures.
yiddo
You jealous Peter because R* promised things and DELIVERED them?
Go back to making false promises on games and not achieving them.
skibadee
what a tool
Youles
If I was on Twitter, I’d definitely send him abuse.
Alex C
You’re all missing the point. Will GTA V be making $3 million a day in 18 months…?
Adam Guest
Of course not, and his point’s a valid one; As a long term business model mobile & “freemium” will undoubtedly make more money than consoles.
I suggest people are just a little peeved at his turn of phrase. To call an $800m launch within the industry “not impressive” is somewhat disingenous, especially given his time working on AAAs.
bunimomike
You’re missing the point, I feel, Alex. What’s impressive is both sets of data. He’s being a tool and trying to shift the limelight onto the world he operates in at present. Classic ploy.
Alex C
“He’s being a tool”
Ugh.
KeRaSh
Like it or not but that is the way he comes across. His comment is simply ignorant and it’s not the first time he said something as stupid and childish as that.
cc_star
Yep. That, along with the audience he was addressing.
KeRaSh
Definitely not, but with 1bn within the first month, they don’t need to. They will make most of their money within the first 3 to 6 months and when the PC and next gen versions hit + Steam sales.
Those mobile numbers are also hard to judge. These games need a huge amount of players to make that much money and unless you are Rovio, Pop Cap or Zepto Labs you will have trouble reaching such numbers and even if you do, it could be that your game struggled for months before suddenly taking off so you can’t just multiply the number of days the game has been out with the current revenue numbers.
Two things are for sure, though.
1: Mollyneux’s games will never reach these revenue numbers.
2: Mollyneux is an idiot. Whenever he makes a public statement you think he couldn’t say something more stupid the next time and yet here we are.
bunimomike
I want to hug your second point.
ron_mcphatty
He does have a talent for making points in the least endearing way. Alex is right, those mobile figures are ridiculously impressive, but I just don’t like his tone. I’m impressed, to him I must seem an idiot.
ron_mcphatty
Sorry, meant to type I’m impressed by the GTA figures.
ron_mcphatty
Buggerit, I also meant I don’t like Molyneux’s tone. Sod this, I obviously can’t write what I’m thinking properly anymore.
TSBonyman
And yet i’ve never heard of either of those games.. :/
Yahavage
My thoughts exactly, and that’s what counts.