Is Rockstar still working on the PS3 exclusive?
- Posted May 4th, 2009 at 09:55 EDT by
- 40 Comments
In June 2007, director of third party relations at Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) Michael Shorrock revealed on the Official PlayStation Blog that Sony and Rockstar had come to an agreement on developing a new PS3 exclusive.
"As part of our long standing relationship with Rockstar, and the incredible success for both companies with the cultural icon that is Grand Theft Auto, we've agreed to the PlayStation exclusive rights of the next great franchise from the Rockstar studios," Shorrock wrote.
"Rockstar really wanted to make a game that you can truly only do on PS3, harnessing the power of CELL and Blu-ray disc and this deal lets them do just that...This is really a win-win situation for both companies."
President and CEO of SCEA Jack Tretton further discussed the new agreement with Rockstar on Spike TV's Game Head show with Geoff Keighley, confirming that the unnamed project was not L.A. Noire and that Sony was able to release Take-Two from GTA IV exclusivity in exchange for acquiring the rights to the publisher’s next franchise.
"What we're really excited about is the next great franchise from Take-Two and in exchange for letting them out of that exclusive (Grand Theft Auto IV), we've got the rights to the next great franchise from Take-Two."
So, what could the Rockstar PS3 exclusive be? Let's take a look.
L.A. Noire
Boasting a “perfectly re-created Los Angeles” from the 1940s, L.A. Noire was first revealed back in 2005 as one of two signed exclusives with Sony for the PS3. In late 2006, Rockstar became the official publisher of L.A. Noire and in 2007 the game was listed down for release on PS3 only in Take-Two’s financial report.
However, Team Bondi's official website lists L.A. Noire for "next generation consoles" and recent job postings hint that the game will be released for multiple platforms. As a result, it’s unlikely that L.A. Noire is the PS3 exclusive Sony and Rockstar have up their sleeves.
Chance of being the PS3 exclusive: 9%
Max Payne 3
Although the original Max Payne was an exclusive for PlayStation 2, the sequel, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, made the transition over to multiple platforms, hitting Microsoft’s Xbox in addition to Sony’s PlayStation 2. Given that Rockstar Vancouver recently confirmed that the third installment in the series would be hitting PS3, Xbox 360 and PC later this year, we can safely rule out Payne’s latest outing as a possible candidate.
Chance of being the PS3 exclusive: 0%
Red Dead Redemption
As with Max Payne 3, Red Dead Redemption will be released on multiple formats this fall, rendering this an impossible option. The sequel is being headed by Rockstar San Diego, which is currently busy churning out fresh content for Midnight Club: Los Angeles.
Chance of being the PS3 exclusive: 0%
Grand Theft Auto V
While it’s no secret Rockstar’s multi-million selling crime series has remained virtually synonymous with the PlayStation brand over the past decade or so, we’ll be the first to admit that the prospect of GTA V jumping ship to the PS3 exclusivity camp is a very, very far stretch of the imagination.
According to ex-SCE Worldwide Studios President Phil Harrison, the reason the previous entry went multiplatform was due to the fact that the PS3 didn't have the install base to support Rockstar's investment in GTA IV on its own. Furthermore, given that GTA IV has sold over 10 million on Xbox 360 and PS3, we'd argue that Rockstar would want to continue multiplatform development to keep revenue as high as possible.
Nonetheless, GTA V as a game (disregarding platform) is all but confirmed. With Rockstar Vancouver working on Max Payne 3 and Rockstar San Diego developing Midnight Club DLC and Red Dead Redemption, this leaves Rockstar North open to the possibility of developing the sequel. Other than the second Grand Theft ... (continued on next page)
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Comments
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Cyn |
MrCyn- 10:19am BST - May 4th, 2009
- 2
I reckon it's still in the works, Rockstar aren't known for dropping games and if there's any kind of schedule set I'm sure they can stick to it.
I also think it's a new IP, from the way it was talked of as 'the next franchise' it's not logical for it to be a sequal. -
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radgamer420 |
mistercrow- 10:25am BST - May 4th, 2009
- 4
If we dont hear anything at E3 then its propably vaporware.
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happypeoplearegay |
call-me-on-5- 10:33am BST - May 4th, 2009
- 6
heres what i wanna know, why did microsoft pay 25 million on each of the dlc from rockstar? they will never make even half that money back. Plus theres the fact tha about 50% of 360 owners dont have their consoles connected to live because buying an xbox is being cheap.
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terminator12259 |
tacitassassin25- 12:02pm BST - May 4th, 2009
- 9
if GTA5 is anything like 4 i dont care if it is exclusive. la noire looks like it will be a good game if it ever comes out
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Perkons
- 1:23pm BST - May 4th, 2009
- 14
E3 2009 is our only hope to ever hear about this new IP.
And I still hope for LA Noire to be PS3 exclusive as Sony was the one which ordered the project and funded it at the beginning. If not, then it's such a shame about Take Two.
And I'm waiting for SanAndreas Stories too. If Sony was in talks with Rockstar about next GTA PSP then I hope it will see it's daylight on new PSP Go! It would only make sense.
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Wolfenstien |
Leon_44- 2:48pm BST - May 4th, 2009
- 19
If Rockstars wants to devolope it's games perfectly and be a smash hit like MGS4 or GTA IV it should be all exclusive and specially GTA V and Red Dead Redemption !!!
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IceShade |
Ice_Shade- 4:15pm BST - May 4th, 2009
- 22
C'mon who do you think Rockstar is, Squeenix? Of course they're gonna make good on this deal.
I hope you geniuses here at PSU aren't trying to say "oh no there's no more exclusive" and then E3 rolls around and you guys start yelling "ZOMG the Rockstar exclusive was real LOLOLOL" because that's just the kind of bad journalism i've grown to expect from this place.
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ephracis |
ephracis- 4:21pm BST - May 4th, 2009
- 23
GTA V will most probably not be out for many years. Why? Because they have just ONE game so far based on the GTA IV engine.
After GTA III we got two more games (Vice City and San Andreas) and I think that they will make at least two more games based on the GTA IV engine.
So all this talk about GTA V is nonsense. Who knows if the GTA games will even still exist two more games into the future?
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Sniperwithacause |
Sniperwithacause- 5:16pm BST - May 4th, 2009
- 24
Well whatever it may be I will get the game.
Aplay-May-Cry is the picture shown beside my name. Send him a message over PSN.
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MarkG999
- 7:00pm BST - May 4th, 2009
- 25
Rockstar are still working on this, I have 100% faith in this. They know that investing in learning PS3 tech will bring dividends for PS4. Rockstar is a Sony 2nd tier studio through and through. I suspect Sony must be lauughing their socks off than Microsoft had to pay $50m for GTA IV DLC, when Sony bought several game studios for much less than this... (Evolution cost $33m).
I can imagine the call now.. "Rockstar: Hi Sony, Microsoft just offered us a $50m bribe to cancel the DLC on the PS3..." "Sony: whaever......" -
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KillaRizzay
- 9:41pm BST - May 4th, 2009
- 27
Are they stupid?? If they has exclusivity to GTA4 why the heck wouldnt they take it?? I'm sure GTA4 sold more than this new franchise would? Is it just me or does it seem stupid to give up a sure thing for a the uncertanty of "the next great franchise" ?? What if its a franchise that sucks like State of Emercency??
In my opinion, Sony should held onto the exclusive rights to GTA 4 and let the "next great franchise" go to all the systems. Could you imagine how many more PS3's woulda sold if GTA 4 was only on PS3??
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edward_moffet |
edd- 11:57pm BST - May 4th, 2009
- 30
LA noire was confirmed multiplat a LOOOONG time ago because the budget was simply too big to not make it multiplat, i think its budget is like the biggest in the history of games
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flaviofernandes |
flaviusdigital- 12:41am BST - May 5th, 2009
- 31
i hope they do that because this industry need more games like gta 4 and some more rockstar games
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Perkons
- 4:21pm BST - May 5th, 2009
- 36
@34
Yes it is. Of course, only officialy.
During the shareholders conference-call, a spokesperson for Take Two implied that both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 releases are likely and that "LA Noire is being developed for next-generation systems." However L.A. Noire has only been officially announced for the Playstation 3.
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BigBoss11
- 1:02am BST - May 6th, 2009
- 38
microsoft pays for these titles thats the real problem. But if Rockstar was smart they would make it ps3 only. Think about it, they can do more with the PS3. Ps3 has much more space on the blueray discs and better graphics. Rockstar would have a perfect chance to make the best looking game out there. Nothing agianst 360 but if you make a game multiplat you have a limit you cant pass cause keep in mind 360 cant handle what the ps3 can. But if its only on ps3 you can pass that limit and put more features, better graphics and so on.
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infamous_09
- 1:57pm BST - May 7th, 2009
- 39
ok, rockstar knew that iv would cost alot to make, so they break the exclusive deal so they can make the best game they possible could at that time. thats why they broke the deal and thats why we have such a great game game. if it werent for microsoft wanting a piece then we wudnt have such a great game, rockstar would have had a much tinnier budget and the game wudnt b as great, cos there r a lot of 360's out there n they would generate alot of money for a company like rockstar and a game like gta.
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