Rumor: Rockstar to buy APB, release as GTA Online

by Dustin Burg { May 8th 2008 at 10:15AM }

In rumor news that initially seems a bit far fetched but eventually turns into a rumor that sort of makes sense, Realtime Worlds' recently purchased All Points Bulletin MMO may be up for sale with the targeted purchaser being none other than Rockstar. Yup ...

Rumor has it that Realtime may have secured the APB license not only to distribute it as they wish, but possibly to re-package it and sell it to Rockstar as GTA Online. Thus far, Realtime has downplayed the whole idea of an APB re-sell, but did confirm that one reason for their recent APB acquisition was "to look for another partner; someone else who may well be interested and have the infrastructure [to support it]." Interesting stuff. Seeing that GTAIV is all the hawtness right now and from what we've seen of APB, a re-worked GTA Online MMO may not be all that bad of an idea. But only time will tell.

Tags: apb, gta-online, realtime-worlds, rockstar, rockstar-games, rumor

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

amart @ May 8th 2008 10:24AM

Not going to happen because:
-Rockstar has its own taste and style, so the game would have to be re-worked on all fronts.
-It would take the thunder out of the next "traditional" GTA, that would not feature the MMO style.

xenocidic @ May 8th 2008 10:33AM

"GTA Online" may just be a catchphrase name some journalist came up with...

ChewyDogg @ May 8th 2008 10:37AM

Well, Dave Jones of Realtime Worlds created the GTA franchise, so the "styles" aren't going to be so different. It could happen. If it doesn't, oh well. We will get a great game either way.

Big Bird @ May 8th 2008 12:15PM

Its funny as I read through on the first page I was thinking to myself what will the first comment be "not gonna happen" so I click on the story and there is its. ok so it isnt esp....lol just typical of all these articles

jaybird1905 @ May 8th 2008 2:19PM

@ Chewydogg

Mike Dailly was the creator of the GTA franchise, not Dave Jones.

AoE @ May 8th 2008 2:31PM

@jaybird1905,

Well.... yes and no. Mike Dailly created the game engine that inspired GTA (granted I'm sure this is oversimplifying the degree of influence he had), whereas David Jones was the designer... An important distinction to make in this particular argument since the designer dictates the "style" of the game much more than the programmers do... At the end of the day though, does it really matter? Both men were instrumental in creating the franchise.

Platinum_Skeet @ May 8th 2008 2:42PM

All Rockstar needs is the leveling system and how they do the network code. Then they can modify GTAIV's Euphoria engine to work with it. If they can get 16 players no lag on todays current console and if people can mod GTA:SA to do 100 people on a PC with half the stats of a PS3 or 360. This'll be easy...

Honestly Rockstar can probably do it right now. They're probably doing it to buy out the competition...

xenocidic @ May 8th 2008 10:33AM

Hopefully the console version of this game gets resurrected in the process.

psyborg @ May 8th 2008 10:49AM

APB has a sci-fi touch to it doesn't it? If thats the case I'd rather they finish ABP then work with R* on GTA:Online.

CharleyTony @ May 8th 2008 10:50AM

Jones was with DMA design (Rockstar North) in the beginning, if somebody buys the APB IP it might as well be Rockstar.

They have all this fresh money coming from GTA 4, they know that the GTA brand is bigger than ever. It might be time to create a MMO for them.

RealTimeWorlds has been working a long time on this project and the only thing holding them back is a "supporting company", they were with Webzen and that company is putting out nothing and has a lot of projects on its hands,, almost all delayed too.

This would make APB happen faster (with a possible new name of course) and it will also make a GTA MMO happen a lot faster than if it was started from the ground up.

That makes me think that this deal is possible and also a great idea.

Just think how much GTA is better than its clones, and its not like GTA has a really secret formula, its just that the people who are making it really care about it and know what they are doing...
Add the guys who made Crackdown to the mix and you've got a sure hit and an almost instantly great game.

c. thomas @ May 8th 2008 10:57AM

Just bring it to the 360! Please?!!

mattclarkie @ May 8th 2008 11:06AM

Can we has Crackdown 2 now?

joey @ May 8th 2008 11:13AM

I don't see why Rockstar would buy APB.

vanhelsingh @ May 8th 2008 11:16AM

Is APB not coming out on the 360? Wtf

AoE @ May 8th 2008 3:47PM

I don't think any specific platforms were ever announced, and if they were, it was *probably* pc-only being an MMO and all...

Tony Bowman @ May 8th 2008 11:22AM

as long as APB, or whatever it ends being titled comes to the 360, i'll be happy. i LOVED Crackdown and shed a tear, symbolically, when it became clear there wasn't going to be a sequel.

JHTM @ May 8th 2008 11:22AM

i an see why R* would want to buy the game since the premise is a good one. I do agree the style is somewhat different to GTA's take on things. One thing to note, from the initial CGI police chase, didnt the criminals steal a skyline then pimp it out? im sure car manufacturers arnt going to be too happy in a GTA game since none like to admit their cars are 'stealable' BMW anyone ??

APB looks pretty cool but i agree it seems kind of a stretch to suggest R* are ready to step in, they'd have to do alot of re-work to put their GTA stamp on it. I personally cant see R* taking someone elses game and just re-labelling it - just doesnt seem like 'them'

Sean @ May 8th 2008 11:33AM

APB looks like a toned-down Crackdown, on an MMO scale. Sticking 'GTA' in the title isn't going to change the fact the engine was built for a very distinct feel (it certainly looks more cartoon-esque than GTAIV), so I really don't see Rockstar taking a great deal of interest.