Digital Spy have reported that GTA IV may be delayed to help improve Take-Two’s financial forcasts for the year 2008.

Analyst Michael Patcher has revealed he believes Take-Two will delay the release of its eagerly-awaited PS3 and Xbox 360 game Grand Theft Auto IV as it aims to improve its financial forecasts for 2008.

Currently due for release October 16, which is just weeks before the end of the fiscal year, Patcher said: "We believe that it is possible that the company will choose to ’throw in the towel’ on financial year 07 by shifting the release date for Grand Theft Auto IV by a few weeks, increasing the losses incurred this year and improving the company’s prospects for financial year 08."

The Wedbush Morgan analyst added that a two-week delay would also be a "reasonable gap" between the launch of GTA IV and Halo 3, which "would actually help sales of both games".