The Grand Theft Auto series has usually been associated with just one series of consoles-the PlayStation. Exclusive titles often bring added income to a game publisher,s pockets by mere default. However, Sony failed to pick up the exclusive contract for GTA: IV. A news story in Newsweek speculated that Sony missed the opportunity because of Ken Kutaragi, the CEO of Sony, dragging his feet on the matter.
But in response to the story, Jack Tretton, vice president of Sony Entertainment America offered another view. It was a matter of money. "It’s just a question of how deep into your pockets do you have to reach to secure [exclusivity]? Desperation breeds deep pockets. Confidence breeds the opposite. When it makes sense, you do the deal. When it doesn’t, you pass,” he said to Newsweek.
While no figures were given regarding the bargaining between Take Two and Sony, the budget belt has definitely tightened because of development costs related to the PS3 and the overall downturn in business for Sony.
