We asked the question once: did Microsoft pay $50 million for GTAIV content? Readers will recall that Take Two's recent conference call made reference to two separate $25 million payments for "episodic content." Prior to this, gamesindustry.biz confirmed that the episodic content for GTAIV would be exclusive to Xbox 360. Naturally, this stumped PS3 owners who were promised their own exclusive content as well. The obvious conclusion, then, is that MS coughed up some money to keep the content exclusive.Whatever the reality is, Take Two isn't talking. Gamesindustry.biz contacted the company for comment on the $50 million quote and were greeted with no official responses whatsoever. Did MS buy exclusivity? The world may never know (but probably yes).
[Via Joystiq]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-19-2007 @ 2:56PM
Benjamin09 said...
They would never publicly admit this. If they did, that would be bad business on their part.
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6-19-2007 @ 3:18PM
dunnypop said...
$50 million for exclusive GTA content is a little excessive. GTA is awesome. Exclusive content is a plus. Does GTA sell systems... I think it will... but $50 million worth? probably not. Now if they can only dump a lot of money for Final Fantasy, and then Sony really will be crapping their pants.
If it's anything like Guitar Hero, you will lose more gamers than gain them.
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6-19-2007 @ 3:22PM
Knight Marquise said...
@dunnypop
Lose gamers? Why? I usually always purchase any extra DLC as long as I feel it increases the life of the game for me, such as all the Obvlivion DLC, Gears DLC, and the Guitar Hero II DLC.
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6-19-2007 @ 4:06PM
TSD said...
Why does everyone care what MS does with their money. The last two days it seems everyone cares about MS spending this cash. This is called business and what ver it takes to make money. So it's seems over priced but last time I looked MS still was making money and had more cash on hand than any company. Must be doing something right. Just my opinion.
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6-19-2007 @ 4:37PM
Paul said...
"The world may never know" We will if the 360 has episodic content but PS3 doesn't.
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6-19-2007 @ 5:42PM
Carnie said...
WHY IS EVERYONE THINKING SMALL.....
Think about you think M$ is just going to dump 50 mill for just ONE game...come on now...
While they may have spent some of that money for future content for GTAIV anyone ever take into account that they might be purchasing the rights for future exclusive games....
If we take a look at M$ track record we know that they try to plan for the future and more then likely this money just isn't for GTAIV but for future games as well....
Stop thinking so small...because I guarantee that Microsoft isn't....
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6-19-2007 @ 7:37PM
T Ghost said...
matter of fact is that in the US there are only 2 games that are MAJOR console pushers: Halo and GTA. Halo 2 caused the original XBOX to sell MORE than the overlord sales mith PS2 for MONTHS!
And did anyone forget how many PS2 sales GTA III, GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas generated?
Halo is on Microsoft's pocket already. Now GTA is kinda. It's not exclusive but there's absolutely no reason for someone who buys a console JUST because of GTA to buy a PS3 instead of a XBOX 360 for it.
Just think on the impact that this fact can have on PS3 sales if well used by Microsoft's marketing efforts. Specially combined with the fact that the XBOX 360 is US$200 cheaper than a PS3. That has no HALO and no Killer App in sight for the next 12 months, at least.
I would say Microsoft paid US$50 million not for the DLC exclusivity but for the USA's PS3 funeral.
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