How much did Microsoft pay for exclusive GTA IV content?

360 News | Enough to give every Australian a few dollars.

A few days ago, it was revealed that episodic content for Grand Theft Auto IV would be exclusive to the Xbox 360. Exclusive content for one of the biggest games of 2007 is definitely a huge advantage for Microsoft, but how much did Microsoft pay for this exclusive?

According to Kotaku, Microsoft paid around $50,000,000. Take Two’s CFO Lainie Goldstein disclosed the amount when asked for details by analyst Evan Wilson. Goldstein also revealed that the first episodic content will be avaliable in March 2008, while a second slice of content will be released later that year.

So, Microsoft paid $25,000,000 per episode. We can’t help but feel a little concerned with how much these episodic packs are going to cost us when they’re eventually released on the marketplace.

Related Grand Theft Auto IV Content

Grand Theft Auto: Hollywood?
27 Jul, 2010 Rockstar might be returning to familiar ground.

First Ballad of Gay Tony DLC images arrive
30 Aug, 2009 This is one dance we're keen to cut in on.

New DLC hitting Grand Theft Auto IV for Xbox 360
27 May, 2009 Episode two: The Ballad of Gay Tony.

Page12 3 Next

51 Comments

DancesInUnderwear

4 years ago

$25,000,000 per episode? Does Ray Romano have a role?

Joseph

4 years ago

Why do I feel the money spent on this would've played a better part in... a console price drop?

DEJA VU

4 years ago

Joseph wrote

Why do I feel the money spent on this would've played a better part in... a console price drop?

mate thats exactly what i was thinking besides will they even make profit for it

DrTim

4 years ago

Sweet Jesus the ***! I knew MS were devious, deep-pocketed MOFOS, but 50 MIL! HOLY CRAP!

the doag

4 years ago

50 million is an awful amount of money. Surely they have something good to offer in exclusive content for such a price tag. Is there any info on what this will be? Thoughts even? I have a feeling, as a PS3 entusiast, that the news will be not be good.

Cerebral

4 years ago

It sucks for Sony (and a fair few consumers), but business is indeed business.

Microsoft wins, but Take Two wins big time.

poweroffarts

4 years ago

Like there isnt enough reasons already for not getting a PS3, but this maybe for few. After hearing price cut, I;m getting tempted to sell my 360.

ittekimasu

4 years ago

this is chump change >.> they probably asked bill for some and all he had in his back pocket was 50mil, still i guess take-two thought it was large enough.

RAMPAGE

4 years ago

Micro is willing to pay anything to crush Sony. The more they do stuff like that the more people will slowly turn to playing games on there console. People will be like "Why buy that on ps3 when you can get it on 360 and also have extra downloadable content to come as well.

ugh the boot

4 years ago

50 Mil?! WoW!! The only problem I have with this is that if the 360 version is hindered in any way by the lack of HDD or the dvd9 format then I will get the Ps3 version and this extra content won't mean anything to me. I do hope both versions are identical so I can take advange of the extra single player content on the 360 version but currently i'm still leaning towards the Ps3 version.

I think that 50 mil would've been better spent improving the hardware on the 360 so it doesn't break down so often.

Jim Dash

4 years ago

poweroffarts wrote

Like there isnt enough reasons already for not getting a PS3, but this maybe for few. After hearing price cut, I;m getting tempted to sell my 360.

I just cannot understand your post, even after reading it 4 times.

50 Million is substantial, and I'm interested to see the size of these episodes.

After this, its hard to justify the PS3 verson. Lets think about it, on the 360 you:

- have episodic content
- get achievements
- can talk to your friends while playing via private chat
- will (apparently) be no different to the PS3 version, we all own the premium console.

And I can't really think of much more now. I mean, the episodic content is the real seller for me. Obviously it'll cost us, but that doesn't worry me in the least. When I love a game, I'm fine with paying for decent extra content.

Acheievements don't excite me as much as they used to, but its still a bonus. And I love being able to talk to me friends (Slap <3) while I'm playing whatever game. The PS3 interface needs some improvements.

My basic issue is that I was going to buy a PS3 mainly for this game. Not because it would be better on it or anything, but because I want one and this was going to be the reason to get one. Now its looking differently.

TheAnswer

4 years ago

Ouch, that's an awful lot to pay. Makes me think that the episodic content will probably be around 2000 ms points or more per episode. Even then I don't think MS will break even on this but it will definately help persuade more people to get the 360 version over the PS3 version. As I've said before I have both already pre-ordered and paid off ($130 each, only cost me $60 cash each). So for $60 of my own cash for each version I definately can't complain

poweroffarts

4 years ago

Jim Dash wrote

poweroffarts wrote

Like there isnt enough reasons already for not getting a PS3, but this maybe for few. After hearing price cut, I;m getting tempted to sell my 360.

Yup I agree, unless you're in my head then you wouldnt understand that. Men cant multitask.

By PS3 I mean, this is a blow to PS3, regardless whatever fanboy
say it isnt. By a few I meant people who really like GTA its factor, hardcore GTA fans. By price cut I mean, after hearing a price cut for a PS3, I'm tempted to sell my 360.

Hope that clears it. I'm not a fan of GTA, hoping it does help my 360 sell quicker than I'd love it.

LeonJ

4 years ago

I couldn't imagine playing a game of this type without achievements. If I do bow down to the almighty hype machine and read that the shooting mechanics are solid, I may buy the 360 verison.

M$ are at least serious this time, they are pulling all stops.

Skiller

4 years ago

Joseph wrote

Why do I feel the money spent on this would've played a better part in... a console price drop?

Yay, $10 price drop

$50m divided amoungst 5m consoles = $10 per, not worth it IMO.

john_solids

4 years ago

its not really gonna hurt ps3 as much as you think, everyone with a ps3 (not those with a ps3 and xbox 360) are gonna buy the game if they want it, because alot of people dont go and buy two consoles alot are happy with just the one and probably cant afford the other now, and it is mainly gonna be the hardcore gamers that want this episodic content, and not the ones who just play a game and never finish it (a hell of a lot of people never finish games).

Then you have to think does this one game decide for people if they want a 360 or ps3, considering its on both, majority of people will look at what other games are coming out or out on the consoles to decide.

So MS could be making a mistake or they might just be lucky. Its a big call either way

ugh the boot

4 years ago

Most people I know mostly play GTA to 'blow stuff up' anyways so I don't really see the episodic content making a huge difference to the casual crowd and I hate to admit but a majority of GTA's fans would be the casual crowd. Which system/s they own is a complete mystery however as the Xbox brand name is quite strong amongst hardcore and casual gamers now.

Jim Dash

4 years ago

Hey ugh, I didn't even like San Andreas compared to Vice City, and therefore I didn't finish the story in San Andreas but I am still looking forward to the story in IV.

Both the casual and the hardcore love GTA. So many of my friends still play San Andreas now, regularly. But its the fact that it is appealing for so many reasons which makes it such a hit. You want it just to blow stuff up! Other people want it to blow people's heads off, whatever!

Qbert

4 years ago

Wow, seriously wow! $50 million is insane. But I guess GTA is a system seller and if you can have 10 million people buying it on your console than another, then $50mil is next to nothing. Like Cerebral said, business is business.

Djfuzz

4 years ago

I'll still buy the PS3 version.

Personally, a game like GTA is big/expensive enough for me as it is. I'll play the game, enjoy it, and then move on. Paying more for even more of the same is not really my cup of tea - I'd rather put that money towards another decent 360 exclusive game.

I'd be surprised if a large portion of the potential market is any different, but time will tell.

arbok

4 years ago

After hearing this, I refuse to buy the Microsoft version on principle unless there's some really good reason to justify the 360 version like multiplayer and episodic content is not good enough.

If Microsoft are going to buy out companies like this and force Sony's hand to get a monopoly on the market, the fact is there will be less competition and games will be poorer for it.

I prefer to see a healthy games market where all systems do well.

Im not an MS hater, but this isnt promoting games in general.

teashades

4 years ago

**** **** **** thats a **** load of **** **** arse money

Capoeira

4 years ago

I've got a feeling there's more to this than we know. And maybe this is a timed exclusive? Remember the farce that was Assassin's Creed? Who's to say that the PS3 won't be getting a fair few 'exclusives' of it's own? In fact, I'm sure we can count on it.

I'm remaining wary of this 'exclusive' for the moment. It's a term that has worn down its worth due to it's overuse over the past year.

(If anyone says I'm in fanboy denial, I'll will find you and take you down. Down to Chinatown.)

diogenes92

4 years ago

Microsoft are just incredibly worried that Sony was becoming much more better than they are...

Page12 3 Next

View as forum topic

Add Comment

Like this news?

Share it with this tiny url: http://palg.nu/1Gm

| More

Grand Theft Auto IV

Pre-order or buy:
PALGN recommends: www.Play-Asia.com

Australian Release Date:
  29/04/2008 (Confirmed)
Standard Retail Price:
  $119.95 AU
Publisher:
  Rockstar Games
Genre:
  Action
Year Made:
  2007

Read more...