GTA IV episodic content exclusive to the 360
by Dustin Burg 
{ Jun 16th 2007 at 10:15AM }
What's that smell? It's the unmistakable aroma of exclusive content coming to the 360 ... lovely. Yesterday, gameindustry.biz confirmed with a Take-Two representative that Grand Theft Auto IV will feature episodic content that will be exclusive to the Xbox 360 platform. Yup, you'll only be able to get such episodic content on your lovely white box and no other console. Life is great isn't it? No other details were confirmed about such content other than its exclusivity.GTA IV is huge game and if the 360 version is going to get content that no other version on other consoles has, it's a big deal. Now we just hope that such episodic content doesn't cost us anything or, if it does, it doesn't break the bank. Our fingers are crossed.
[Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jimy @ Jun 16th 2007 10:38AM
Wow, and I know some guys that are buying a PS3 just to play this game. Suckers.
All's good in 360 land.
erivera3 @ Jun 16th 2007 10:46AM
Yup, I guess one could go so far as to say there is no reason for PS3 to exist, as the 360 is obliterating it as far as content/exclusives/Live/etc.
Sucks to be a PS3 fanboy right now.
ryan @ Jun 16th 2007 11:02AM
and that's my argument right there evira3.
it sucks to own anything ps3 related right now. there is absolutely no games for it out to justify it's price.
on the flip side there's a 50 percent chance it sucks to be an 360 owner. depending on how loud, broken your system is.
in time i hope both these machines will get there kinks out if they want my money.
as for this exclusive content, cool. but what's to stop rockstar from releasing episode exclusives to ps3? different paths of the character's story if you will. it'd be reason enough to buy both versions for the hard core fans and more moola for RS.
Darko @ Jun 16th 2007 11:21AM
@Ryan
I think this has to do with xbox lives marketplace... its a much better delivery system than what the ps3 has in place. And yes it will cost us money. Depending on the size of the episode it could be up to 800 pts if its the size of something like Half life 2 episode 1
Matt @ Jun 16th 2007 11:33AM
The only reason I can come up with this is because Rockstar can't fit the entire game on a DVD, whereas there's plenty of room for everything on a blu-ray disc.
If that's the case, I do hope that either the content is free or the game retails for less than $60. Otherwise, 360 players will be ripped off.
(For the record, I have no love for the PS3.)
synce @ Jun 16th 2007 11:35AM
If I recall correctly, the PS3 version is also getting exclusive content.
Pyronite @ Jun 16th 2007 11:34AM
I definitely expect that this content will cost us a chunk of change. I hope they're of great content and that "360-only" isn't a sign that perhaps Rockstar is looking to skimp on their development budget.
I doubt that this is a sign of that, though. How long until the new trailer!?
Pyronite @ Jun 16th 2007 11:37AM
@5
There is no way that Rockstar is going to be shipping the game with content differences between the 360 and the PS3. If space really is such an issue, which I doubt it is, there are ample compression formats out there with which to bridge the gap.
Even more than that, no company in the world would charge and advertise for "exclusive episodic content" that already came with another version of the game (the PS3).
Grand Theft Crackdown @ Jun 16th 2007 12:00PM
Wow!
Grand Theft Auto and Halo always were my two favorite game series!
I don't have any of the new systems yet, but now I know 4-SURE!
Xbox 360 is BY FAR the best system!
There are new game series that I love!
Crackdown is a lot like Grand Theft Auto on steroids! Literally, since you can lift cars!
The Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto 4 will have this special content that is exclusive, but the cool thing is that the Xbox 360 version will keep all of the action packed rumbles in the controller!
I could never imagine playing games like Grand Theft Auto or Devil May Cry without rumble in the controller. Any true fans of those games wouldn't think of buying those games without the rumble in the controller.
When I buy my Xbox 360, I'm gunna get Crackdown. I'll get GTA4 later in the year, with Halo 3. Probably pick up Gears of War and Lost Planet, along with Command & Conquer 3, too.
L @ Jun 16th 2007 12:23PM
@7 you are right =)
360 gets exclusive downloads & at the same time PS3 is gettin exclusive download.... Some of you need to understand this ....than sayin omg the 360 ver will be better =S cause its the only ver with downloads
dancingtosirens @ Jun 16th 2007 12:18PM
But didnt they say that the two versions would be identical?
Something seems fishy to me.
Im going to wait until they announce more details on the PS3 version, personally.
I think a lot of people are jumping to conclusions, who knows which version will be better.
L @ Jun 16th 2007 12:24PM
ok lets make this clear!
both games when they come out will be 99% the same! some diff GFX.s and so on ..
Then theres the GTA IV episodic content!! which the 360 will be getting and not the ps3 .....
but the thing is! PS3 GTA will get downloads as well which 360 will not =S if you get me
so no matter what game you buy 1st GTA 4 ps3 or 360 its going to be the same game
in the long run its all down to whos download contentis better,,,,,, & cheaper =P lol
Viridium @ Jun 16th 2007 12:32PM
Hey, I have a 360. I'm not overly interested in this game. But people are focusing on what's been said, but not what hasn't been said.
The 360 will get some exclusive content. What's to say the PS3 won't get some DIFFERENT exclusive content?
Tony @ Jun 16th 2007 12:39PM
"But didnt they say that the two versions would be identical? Something seems fishy to me."
They essentially are. I'm sure stuff like that is only taking in mind the retail product to begin with.
This was actually kind of alluded to in the GI article of the game a couple months back as well.
I remember when Oblivion interviews were floating around, the team mentioned that for whatever reason (they gave one, but I don't remember what it was) that they couldn't get the downloadable content into the game. I wonder if that's the same case here?
Tony @ Jun 16th 2007 12:40PM
^^ The Oblivion PS3 interviews, to be more specific.
alexy @ Jun 16th 2007 2:26PM
I don't know why but I never liked these kinds of games ~_~ but Alan Wakes got my attention ^^;
There are too many GTA type games in the market IMO :( Instead of sequels and expansions they should focus on making a new francies:(
thats why Im looking forward to Bioshock/MassEffect/Too Human and my fav Assassin's Creed O_O But Im pretty sure Im gonna pick this game up :D
Little Lee @ Jun 16th 2007 12:47PM
does this mean that the PS3 gets exclusive ones as well though?
ryan @ Jun 16th 2007 12:49PM
yeah, @ everyone who thinks content will come to both systems.
that is precisely what i meant. i'm sure live has a great marketplace and all, but i do think they would make content for both like how soul calibur 2 had exclusive characters.
SomethingGood @ Jun 16th 2007 1:16PM
When GTA IV was first announced, they stated that there would be exclusive episodic content for the 360... Had everybody forgotten that?! The above news is over a year old =P
Sunny @ Jun 16th 2007 2:07PM
Umm, wasn't this confirmed ages ago? Back when they announced the initial multi-platform aspect to GTAIV?
Josh @ Jun 16th 2007 2:12PM
This was announced last year at E3 '06:
http://e3.gamespot.com/story.html?sid=6149698
"12:25: "Microsoft and Rockstar have entered into an exclusive deal to provide episodic content via Xbox Live Marketplace," says Moore. Grand Theft Auto IV will be updated with regular fresh content, more details later. Crowd is stunned, gasps all around. "
Elbone @ Jun 16th 2007 5:29PM
@Matt
Stop lying, that is a bullshit rumor to spread. We know you are a Sony shill, you are the same Matt as MattB on Joystiq. (boy you are uncreative with your screen names)
The game will come complete and will have content later the PoS3 won't have.
kspraydad @ Jun 16th 2007 9:13PM
It is costing MS $50 Million USD to get two sets of episodic content. Both will be released by the end of '08
http://sonyprotectiongroup.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2058
NotSoFast @ Jun 16th 2007 10:18PM
I HATE TO BRAKE 2 U BUT WHEN ROCKSTAR ANOUNCED GTV4 FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID BOTH CONSOLE WOULD HAVE EXCLUSIVE EPISODIC CONTENT!!! BOTH SYSTEMS WILL GET SOME LUV :) U GUYS SUCK ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND SOME WAY 2 MAKE A CONSOLE BETTER THAN THE OTHER NO MATTER HOW SMALL TH SUBJECT!!!
Jason b @ Jun 16th 2007 11:56PM
Rockstar had aleady mentioned that each console will get exclusive content when the game was announced. You people should do some damn research and stop fanning the fanboy flames.
Jason b @ Jun 16th 2007 11:58PM
Already*
T Ghost @ Jun 17th 2007 12:11AM
Damn! No wonder you guys make so much fun of some readers on the fancast! A LOT of dee-dee-dee's arround lately, eh?
Microsoft is paying US$50 million for the exclusivity of 2 episodic download content for the Xbox 360.
Take Two said that. Themselves. It's a new deal. PS3 will not receive such content and Take Two didn't say a single word about PS3 getting ANY download content while screamed to the 4 winds a couple of days ago about the exclusive Xbox 360 content.
Some of you need to get a grip and be introduced to google and his best friend: the RSS reader. Justo go and meet them, subscribe to some good news sites (the X3F sources are a good star for lost n00bs!)!
It's free, fast and keeps you away from looking like a dee-dee-dee when commenting on blogs.
Give it a try guys!
;)
camtheman2343 @ Jun 17th 2007 2:34AM
hey fuckwads that episodic content you Xbox3shitty guys will be able to download will be included on the PS3's blu-ray disk for free. you Xbox3shitty owners will have to pay for the stuff we get for free!!!! waaaahahahawahahahahwhahhwhahwhahw*evil laugh*
*hem* pwned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nick @ Jun 17th 2007 3:18AM
Why doesn't your post mention that the PS3 will also have exclusive episodic content? In the search of balanced media, it may have been appropriate to point out that both systems will have its own exclusive content that will only be available on that machine.
kfresh97 @ Jun 17th 2007 4:37AM
"Talk of an exclusive deal began following the release of Take-Two's Q2 financial report on Tuesday. The report stated that the episodic content would be released on 360 during the 2008 fiscal year - with no mention of PlayStation 3.
Now a company representative has told GI.biz, [i]"The Grand Theft Auto IV episodic content is exclusive to Xbox 360."[/i] "
It's fair enough that people decide to defend their chosen console every now and then, but at least read the source story first. Geez.
SomethingGood @ Jun 17th 2007 5:46AM
Hi camtheman! Obviously you've been having trouble understanding the meaning of the term "exclusive". Here... I've quoted a couple of dictionary definitions for you...
not divided or shared with others; "they have exclusive use of the machine"; "sole rights of publication"
single(a): not divided among or brought to bear on more than one object or objective
I'm sorry mate, but if you keep trying to convince yourself that this content will be on the PS3 disc.. you're only going to be disappointed (and you'll feel a little bit foolish too).
scotty @ Jun 17th 2007 5:49AM
the 360 is the only one that will have downloadable content not the ps3 like one person said.microsoft has a contract with rockstar (i think is the name of the company)that give downloadable content to them and not sony but beside that the game will be identical on both version but the ps3 version will not have downloadable content like the 360 because of the contract
ROBULA07 @ Jun 18th 2007 3:44AM
this is bulls**t the xbox is a inferior machine its because of the xbox that the content of the game will be limited on the PS3. If they just made it for the PS3 they could do more with the game due to the fact that the ps3 uses blueray.
Bestof BothWorlds @ Jun 17th 2007 11:50AM
Dont you see its a trick they say exclusive for the ears of the fanboy... OMG WE GET EXCLUSIVE AND U DON'T!!! 360MOOHAHAHAHA(EVIL 360 FANBOY LAUGH!!!) AND you already no MICROSHIT is a money whore. When EPIC wanted to release the GoW map packs for free MS got in the way and made their loyal fans pay for it. When the ps3 gets episodic content we know they wont be paying for it and MS will find some way to squeeze the money out of you and release the same content u payed for free down the line. Sucks to hear the truth doesnt it.
BUY BOTH SYSTEMS AND STOP CRYING ABOUT HOW THE PS3 iS 2 MUCH MONEY. THE 360 IS MOR EXPENSIVE THAN THE PS3. THATS WHY THEY CHOPPED IT UP.THEY GAVE U A CHOICE BS. $480 Fanboy Elite,$200 HD DVD, $100 to Play wirless, $50 extra controller, $60 a game lets say 2,and for those who just cant wait for there favorite controller to charge a $40 charger for ur wireless controller + $40 Gold 12 months live. add that all up $1030 + tax and im not done!! !stuff you buy from the market place $5 not that much, maybe a new headset if you dont like the 360 headeset $40 thats being cheap, then games come out with new map packs and episodic content $5- $10, $20 O yeah the HDMI cable. WOW i think that raps it all up but to play in HD glory i need to buy an HD TV $800 that is being cheap OMG WTF almost or over $2000 give or take a few items and I hate sony so much i bought a w11 2(just kidding!!) but im so glad i didnt spend all that money on another system that also is going to have good games and to think they almost had me with Metal Gear Solid 4(Halo 3 = for the PS3 i meen Halo is all u hear about).
mike_mgoblue @ Jun 17th 2007 11:58AM
Rockstar Games and Take-Two said all along that the Xbox 360 would be receiving the Episodic Content exclusively.
The only time anyone ever said otherwise was when PS3 owners didn't want to hear that news, so they used their imagination to come up with something else. The PS3 owners simply said that their "might be" different episodic content for both systems; that way each system received some form of exclusive content. The problem with that is the fact that hardcore Grand Theft Auto fans would be in a position where they need to own both the Xbox 360 and the PS3, and they would have to buy both versions of the game.
Thankfully, we now know consumers will only need to buy the game once--for their Xbox 360.
Xbox 360 is the ONLY system there will be Episodic Content developed for.
The accounting records of Take-Two show that Microsoft paid $25 million dollars for each of the two additional Episodes currently being developed. Each of the additional Episodes is scheduled to add approximately 10 hours of gameplay to Grand Theft Auto 4.
Both the Xbox 360 version and the PS3 version will feature all of the Standard features, but ONLY the Xbox 360 will have access to any form of additional Episodic Content.
Just to confirm things: Let's make one thing 100% clear:
It has now been Officially confirmed that Xbox 360 is the ONLY system there will be Episodic Content developed for.
Janet Nelson @ Jun 17th 2007 12:25PM
@ #34:
You did a great job of pointing things out. Everything you said was perfectly expressed. But you forgot to include the hyperlink that proves Microsoft did pay $50 million for the exclusive rights to Episodic Content--a feature that won't be seen on the Playstation 3 version of Grand Theft Auto 4.
Here is the hyperlink, but it is a long page, so I pasted what was said that is important:
Evan Wilson - Pacific Crest Securities
Thank you. And as it relates to the deferred revenue chunk associated with the episodic content on X-Box 360, you can see that $25 million of that moved into short-term deferred. Could you give us any sense of when that’s going to hit the P&L? Will we see $25 million at one time and then the second 25 or will it be a slow bleed?
Lainie Goldstein (Take Two)
The first 25 is for the first episodic content package that’s supposed to go out and that is in March of ’08. That’s why it moved into current because it’s in the next 12 months. The second 25 will be for the second episodic, the episode, and that will be later in fiscal ’08.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/38017
This will be similar to the way the Xbox 360 version of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance lets you download eight new characters, like The Incredible Hulk, Magneto, Sabretooth, Nightcrawler, Dr. Doom, and others, but the Playstation 3 version doesn't let you access that Content.
The big difference is that with Grand Theft Auto 4 it's a signed contract between Take-Two and Microsoft, and it isn't just a matter a being able to play as new characters; it involves over 20 hours of new gameplay in the form of two huge new episodes referred to as Episodic Content--a feature that is 100% exclusive to the Xbox 360 version. In other words, there won't be any exclusive episodes for the PS3 version, because the Xbox 360 has the exclusive rights to that feature.
Actually, I'm glad only the Xbox 360 version has the exclusive rights to include Episodic Content, because it means I only need to buy one version of the game--the Xbox 360 version.
The Xbox 360 version is the only version that will include Rumble/Vibration in the controller, so I wanted the Xbox 360 version to be best all along. I'm glad I got my wish.
Jonah Falcon @ Jun 17th 2007 2:45PM
The new is this, plain and simple:
"The Grand Theft Auto IV episodic content *is exclusive* to Xbox 360."
That is very different than
"Grand Theft Auto IV episodic content is coming that is exclusive to Xbox 360."
Understand? Learn grammatical structure.
Matt Hades @ Jun 17th 2007 5:37PM
Persistent online clan warring over neighborhood turf. Think Los Altos in San Andreas with a 1000 people in a city at one time shooting each other to claim territory.
Mike @ Jun 17th 2007 5:47PM
Cool,i love my 360,i hope it doesn't die though =/
I bet the exclusiveness will have something to do with the Rumble in the 360 controller.Maybe use it in story mode or something.
I wonder if the Playstation 2 1/2 (A.K.A. PS3) will have some exclusiveness for it's Motion sensor crap.
I will buy a PS3 next year sometime when they have more then one game that interests me...but if there is a cross platform game that i want(Assassin's Creed Crysis,GTA:IV) i would buy it for my Xbox 360 over the PS3 everytime.
Stoofa @ Jun 18th 2007 5:45AM
It is worth pointing out that Rockstar themselves have only ever mentioned updates/ exclusive content for the 360.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you do I want evidence (links etc)
Jonah Falcon @ Jun 18th 2007 10:03AM
The PS3 is incapable of running Gears of War thanks to its 256K ram limitation. Sorry, the PS3 is the inferior machine. (smirk)
JHTM @ Jun 25th 2007 12:09PM
Blaming the xbox360 for somehow limiting GTA4 is a naive comment imo. I would go as far to say that, what game currently available really takes advantage of the Blu-ray disc size? Anytime a game is jointly developed (up until now) for 360 and ps3, the versions offer little or no difference with maybe the graphical edge goin to the 360 (cf gamespot comarison shots). If anyone is to blame for Sony losing content for the PS3, its Sony themselves since they dropped the ball and failed to pay for an exclusive agreement with Take2. Knowing that GTA 3, vc and SA single handedly managed to ship boatloads of PS2 units, i see this as a gross mistake on Sony's part, did they assume that the next generation of one of the most successful franchises in video game history wouldnt be successful? Moreover, the PS3 is crying out for a game that can elevate its status to that which the PS2 enjoyed for so long. Relying on blu-ray alone simply will not cut it for gamers.
IMO - MS made a great business decision in acquiring exclisive content for the 360, and to say the PS 3 would get this for free is mis-informed, im sure Take 2 would violate that 50 mil contract if they did so - unless of course the content is a time based exclusive - i doubt it and hope it isnt :-p
360 - 4ever !!!
GTECH @ Jun 29th 2007 9:50AM
SILLY XBOX360 FANBOYS, THE CONSOLE IS CRAP, MINE HAS BROKEN DOWN TWICE THATS IT HAD ENOUGH GOT MESELF A LOVELY US$300 60G PS3 AND IT BEATS 360 HANDS DOWN THE 360 SUX, THE CONSOLE IS GUARANTEED TO BREAK DOWN... YOU GOT FOR IT WITH YA HOOVERS YA GAMESCORE WHORES, PS3 IS BETTER THAN XBOT