Sony’s unique PlayStation exclusivity deal for Grand Theft Auto 3 and the next two video games within the collection was partly a response to concern about Microsoft’s launch of the Xbox, a former govt has revealed.
Talking to GamesIndustry.biz, former PlayStation Europe boss Chris Deering (who was not too long ago criticized for saying laid off builders ought to “drive an Uber” or “go to the seashore for a 12 months”) admitted Sony was involved concerning the November 2001 launch of the unique Xbox, and sought exclusivity offers with third-party publishers to bolster the enchantment of the PlayStation 2.
“We have been apprehensive after we noticed Xbox coming,” Deering mentioned. “We knew exclusivity was the secret in lots of fields, like Sky TV with sports activities. Simply as Christmas was approaching when Xbox would launch, a couple of of us went out to our favorite third-party publishers and builders, and we requested them, ‘How would you want a particular deal in the event you hold your next-generation recreation on PlayStation unique for a two-year interval?’ And one of many offers we made was with Take-Two for the following three Grand Theft Auto video games. On the time, it wasn’t clear that Grand Theft Auto 3 was going to be as large because it was, as a result of it was a top-down recreation.
“It was very fortunate for us. And really fortunate for them, as a result of they obtained a reduction on the royalty they paid. These offers aren’t unusual in industries with platforms. Together with in the present day with issues like social media.”