Famed Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter has responded to the news that Watch Dogs has been delayed until spring 2014. Pachter says that Ubisoft were genuinely worried that Grand Theft Auto V, Call of Duty: Ghosts and Battlefield 4 would eat into sales of the company’s Watch Dogs. Pachter concluded by saying that Ubisoft has given its developers the opportunity to fully maximise the game’s sales potential and build a lasting franchise that the company could use to offset any future weakness for its established key franchises.

We believe that management was also concerned about the strong competition for wallet share Watch Dogs faced at the holidays from Grand Theft Auto V, Battlefield 4, and a new Call of Duty, among others.”

“Grand Theft Auto V is only adding to industry uncertainty, as while it is bringing many previously-disconnected gamers back to the market, it also has achieved record-breaking sales that have…