Reports have surfaced that Microsoft and Rockstar Games have formed a partnership to bring Grand Theft Auto V’s Story downloadable content an entire month early on Xbox One and Xbox 360 before the PlayStation. The expansion is rumoured to be announced during Microsoft’s E3 2015 Press Briefing where it will be announced that Xbox gamers will get their hands on the expansion before anyone else.
The DLC is set to build upon the story of the three existing characters, Franklin, Michael and Trevor. It’s set after the events of Grand Theft Auto V but we’re not sure if it’s still to be set in Los Santos. The expansion is rumoured to introduce new locations to the world of Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online. Rockstar Games had originally announced the expansion would launch before the end of 2014 but pushed it back into this year to work on the definitive versions of the game for Xbox One, PS4 and PC as well as the Heists expansion. The actor who plays Franklin, Shawn Fonteno revealed earlier this year that he was finishing up DLC for GTA V. Fonteno revealed the project was on a huge scale and finishing it was a top priority for the team.
Now here’s where stuff gets very interesting. Microsoft are eager to land an early access debut of the story content for Grand Theft Auto V a full month on Xbox One and Xbox 360 before the PlayStation 4. We’re not sure when the PC version will get the DLC, but if this is true seeing as Call of Duty DLC always landed on Xbox before PC, I’m expecting a similar setup. When the DLC is announced during E3, Microsoft fans 'can expect special treatment from Rockstar'.
A similar deal was made for Grand Theft Auto IV where Xbox 360 owners got exclusive access to the games two expansions before any other platform. The Lost and Damned was 13 months exclusively on Xbox 360 and The Ballad of Gay Tony was 6 months exclusively on Xbox 360. The deal was always a timed setup and because Rockstar have got far more expensive since then with the success of recent games, it would explain why it’s only one month of early access rather than six or even a whole year.
But don't Sony have the marketing deal with Rockstar? They do indeed. However, it is possible that the marketing deal has now expired or Microsoft are willing to offer far more for exclusivity than Sony. Sony may not have had enough to renew their contract with Take Two, the parent company behind Rockstar Games. I’ve heard that Microsoft and Rockstar Games may have shook hands and that the cash may have already been exchanged.
While Microsoft are more focused on its first party line-up, the company are preparing some massive third party announcements. This is only one of the many to come. However, I wouldn’t confirm anything just yet. Take it all with a grain of salt and keep it locked for E3 this year.
