If succeeds in acquiring publisher Take-Two, the firm would be under strong economic pressure to the release of IV, outspoken analyst says today.

"I think it’ll be done and will be street ready but I think that if EA takes over they have an economic incentive to delay it," he revealed. "If the Housers think that there’s 2 percent more improvement they can make with an extra few months, why not?"

Pachter contrasts this position with Take-Two's, stating that the current management need to get the game out by late April because of their own financial position.

"Take-Two financially has to get that game out… They’re going to be pretty much tapped out on their credit line and their cash position, so they need the money. They need to get it out," he commented.

Take-Two also has a contractual obligation to to release the game on time, we're told.

By Luke Guttridge