- GTA 4 was the first game in the series that launched simultaneously on PS3 and Xbox 360.
- Microsoft had to convince Rockstar that the Xbox wouldn’t flop to get the release.
- Before that, it didn’t get day 1 releases, as earlier versions came a year later on Xbox.
Getting Grand Theft Auto games at launch isn’t something Xbox has had since its advent. In fact, GTA 4 was the first game in the series to be released simultaneously on both the PS3 and Xbox 360, whereas the older releases launched much later.
In a recent interview, a former Xbox executive stated that getting GTA on Xbox on day 1 took a lot of persuading. They had to convince Rockstar that the Xbox wouldn’t be a flop to secure its eventual release.
Why it matters: Before the Xbox 360, Microsoft wasn’t considered as big a player in consoles as Sony or Nintendo, so Rockstar’s reluctance does make sense, but in the end, the company came to an agreement.
Speaking to EuroGamer, Peter Moore explained how bringing GTA to Xbox was a big moment for the company. It was basically a PlayStation franchise at that point, but it had to be on Xbox based on how popular it was.
They needed convincing that their development resources, which needed to be shifted to Xbox SDKs, weren’t going to be wasted if the console was going to be a flop
– Peter Moore
Moore stated that Rockstar had to be convinced that the Xbox platform was worthwhile. If they thought that the console would flop, instead of investing in the platform, they could turn their attention somewhere else.
In the end, it all worked out, and Peter Moore even got a tattoo to celebrate the moment. But, from then on, GTA has been a regular part of Xbox, and even the next entry, GTA 6, launches exclusively on PS5 and Xbox Series at first.
What are your thoughts on Microsoft convincing Rockstar to get GTA on Xbox? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
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News Reporter
Abdullah is an avid gamer who primarily plays single-player titles. If you can’t find him anywhere, he’ll probably be at his desk playing The Witcher 3 for the millionth time. When he isn’t playing games, he’s either reading or writing about them.
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