Take-Two 'GTA VI' Pre-Order Data Indicate 'Robust' Demand, B. Riley Says

Take-Two Interactive Software's (TTWO) "Grand Theft Auto VI" pre-order tracking suggests "robust" demand for the highly anticipated video game ahead of its commercial launch in November, B. Riley Securities said Friday. Two-week tracking of digital storefronts and retail websites showed GTA VI was the top-selling item across all monitored platforms last month, when pre-orders started, and among the top-ranked items in early July, according to the brokerage. The tracking covered Sony's (SONY) PlayStation Store, Microsoft's (MSFT) Xbox Live, Amazon.com (AMZN), Walmart (WMT), Best Buy (BBY), and GameStop (GME). "While this analysis was qualitative in nature, we believe findings suggest robust demand for the game," B. Riley Managing Director Drew Crum said in a note to clients. The analysis supports the brokerage's "positive fundamental outlook" for Take-Two's shares, according to Crum. B. Riley maintained its buy rating on the video game publisher's stock with a $300 price target. The company's shares were down 1% in Friday afternoon trade, bringing its year-to-date losses to 4.8%. The Ultimate Edition of the game, which is priced at $99.99, was the most popular version on.