Reflecting back on the early 2000s as a PlayStation devotee, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia when recalling the intense rivalry between Sony and Microsoft. As a child, I remember the anticipation leading up to the launch of Xbox, and the subsequent worry that it might just dethrone our beloved PlayStation 2.
In the early 2000s, Sony encountered a fresh rival to its PlayStation market when Microsoft debuted the original Xbox. This new competitor caused genuine worry within Sony, prompting them to secure exclusive distribution rights for the popular Grand Theft Auto (GTA) games of that time on the PlayStation 2.
In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Chris Deering, the previous head of PlayStation Europe, explained the reasoning behind PlayStation’s desire to secure exclusive deals for Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Deering expressed concern upon seeing the arrival of Xbox. He recognized that exclusivity was crucial in many industries, such as Sky TV with sports. As Christmas approached and Microsoft prepared to release Xbox, some of us reached out to our preferred third-party publishers and developers, proposing a unique offer: ‘Would you be interested in a special agreement if you commit your next-generation game to remain exclusive on PlayStation for two years?’ One of the agreements we struck was with Take-Two for the following three installments of Grand Theft Auto. At that time, it wasn’t certain how big Grand Theft Auto 3 would become, as it used to be a top-down game.
Deering pointed out that Sony was “fortunate” to secure the agreement, given its positive impact on the corporation’s earnings.
He remarked, “We truly benefited from good fortune,” and added, “Interestingly, it worked out well for them too as they received a reduction in their royalty payment.
Initially, these games didn’t debut on Xbox; instead, they achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the top-selling titles in PlayStation 2 history. Among them, San Andreas broke all records as the best-selling PS2 game, while Vice City took the third spot and GTA 3 secured the fifth position among the highest-selling games.
Grand Theft Auto 3 and Vice City were launched for Xbox on November 4, 2003, whereas Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas arrived for the platform in June 2005.
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2024-12-06 20:18