Take Two executive chairman Strauss Zelnick has said that his firm’s decision to delay consideration of EA’s acquisitive $2 billion offer until after GTA IV’s release has been ‘vindicated’ by the game’s success.

According to the New York Times, Zelnick said in a statement:

“The critical and consumer response to Grand Theft Auto IV vindicates our strategy of waiting until the launch with regard to E.A.’s offer,” said Strauss Zelnick, the chairman of Take-Two, in a statement.

However, EA responded by saying that its tender offer always took into account GTA’s potential – and that the bid wasn’t likely to be pushed up by the game’s sales triumph

“We’ve seen a share price above and below our offer and it doesn’t change anything. We knew the game would be an extraordinary success,” said Jeff Brown, a spokesman for Electronic Arts. “All of that was factored into our offer of $2 billion.”

Thanks to VG247 for spotting the story.