In a fascinating look back at gaming history, former PlayStation Europe president Chris Deering revealed why Sony sought exclusivity for the Grand Theft Auto series during the early 2000s. This decision was driven by genuine concerns over Microsoft’s burgeoning competition with the original Xbox.
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Deering explained that as Xbox approached its launch, Sony felt compelled to secure exclusive rights for significant titles like GTA 3, GTA: Vice City, and GTA: San Andreas.
“We were worried when we saw Xbox coming,” he stated candidly. “Exclusivity was crucial in many business areas, think Sky TV with sports. We contacted our favorite third-party publishers and developers just before Christmas, asking if they’d be interested in a special deal to keep their next-gen games exclusive to PlayStation for two years.” One such agreement was struck with Take-Two for three upcoming Grand Theft Auto games. At that time, the potential success of GTA 3, which had transitioned from a top-down perspective, was uncertain.
Reflecting on this planning, Deering noted how fortunate both parties involved were. The exclusivity bolstered PlayStation’s sales and provided Take-Two with favorable royalty terms.
Ultimately, these titles made their way onto Xbox; however, they had already achieved remarkable success on PS2. San Andreas became the best-selling title, while Vice City and GTA 3 ranked among the top sellers. The release dates for these iconic games on Xbox were November 4, 2003, for both GTA: Vice City and GTA III, followed by San Andreas in June of the following year.
