GTA IV DLC for Xbox 360 delayed

By Tom Bramwell Published 6 June, 2008

Slips to Take-Two's fiscal Q1 2009.

As part of its Q2 financial reports, Take-Two has admitted that episodic content for Grand Theft Auto IV on Xbox 360 has been delayed from fiscal Q4 2008 to Q1 2009, GamesIndustry.biz reports.

In real terms, that means you can expect to see it pop up on Xbox Live during the three months from November to January inclusive, instead of "autumn" as had previously been touted - not least by Microsoft, which has used the promise of DLC in the autumn to try and lure gamers to its platform.

In a conference call to investors, Take-Two said that the decision was made due to portfolio balancing, rather than development issues, and did not give any pricing information for the episodic content. Nor would it confirm or deny plans for a handheld version of Grand Theft Auto IV.

78 per cent of Take-Two's total publishing revenue for the quarter came from GTA IV and catalog sales of prior GTA titles. The game, which was released on 29th April worldwide, celebrated its fifth week at the top of the UK All-Formats Top 40 a few days ago.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (60) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • NickDude #1 4 years ago

    ah well, by then most people will have moved on to gears 2 anyway

  • lambtron #2 4 years ago

    "78 per cent of Take-Two's total publishing revenue for the quarter came from GTA IV and catalog sales of prior GTA titles."

    One trick pony anyone?

  • Les #3 4 years ago

    So basically MS lied in their adverts... ;)

    Hope they didn't hand over the cash already, otherwise it will be quite hard to make a positive return...

  • awb83 #4 4 years ago

    lambtron - You may just have a point there mate.


    I'll still be playing the best 8/10 game in the world.

  • keyboardmonkey #5 4 years ago

    Mmmm greedy Take Two,

    We made shit loads of money in in the first half of the financial year, and we want to make sure we make shit loads in the second half as well. Keeps the share price up i guess, but won't some one think of the children.

    It would be nice to have a confirmed date, it would give me more motivation to finish the game (currently on 30% or something, i got distracted by Mass Effect)

    Edited because my fingers are not typing what i want them to!
    Edited by 2 at 06/06/08 @ 08:46

  • The_Inquisitor #6 4 years ago

    So all those adverts by Microsoft claiming an autumn release of the DLC were a sham. I though it was strange that they were promoting it before the main games release, but I guess they were allowed to feign ignorance, at least until the dust had settled and then change the DLC release date. By then of course most will have bought the game and hence, decided on a system.

  • Steroyd #7 4 years ago

    And yet no clarification on what the DLC IS!

  • muscleblade #8 4 years ago

    Saints Row 2 was delayed because of the GTAIV DLC. Now the GTA IV DLC is delayed to compete with SR2 again.

    Im starting to get tired of GTAIV at 82% so to me its a good thing that i can let it rest and then enjoy it again at a later time.
    Ninja gaiden 2 and Colonies keep me more than occupied these days.

    Edited by 1 at 06/06/08 @ 08:48

  • mattigan #9 4 years ago

    I thought it was going to be coming around November/December time anyway.... Not that I'm planning to buy it.

  • bad09 #10 4 years ago

    A damn shame but it's not like I'm counting the days (yet!).

  • peterfll #11 4 years ago

    Well, I'm only 10% or thereabouts through the main game, but I only started a couple of weeks ago.

  • Xerx3s #12 4 years ago

    Same here. Not interested in the DLC but I usually take soso games such as gta 4 slow.

  • 3william56 #13 4 years ago

    PS3delayLOL.

    Oh.

    What? 360 games get delayed too? What is the world coming to.

    Lambtron - you've hit the nail on the head. It's to shift the revenue into next financial year, so that T2 actually have some money coming in next year to balance the monsterous revenue this one. I get the funny feeling MS will be p*ssed though - you'd think that $50mil would get you an on time delivery.

  • Darren #14 4 years ago

    Hopefully the DLC will be something substantial along the lines of an expansion pack with a new location/city because we're going to have to wait a long time for it which is a shame.

  • Floppy #15 4 years ago

    "So all those adverts by Microsoft claiming an autumn release of the DLC were a sham."

    Welcome to software development, specifically GAMES development... things slip, they always do. Move along.

  • menage #16 4 years ago

    So, 50 million doesn't buy a deadline?

  • crashVoodoo #17 4 years ago

    noverber to january window you say ?

    i can see it becoming a christmas release ... where it'll sell a fuckton.

  • Negotiator #18 4 years ago

    "I'll still be playing the best 8/10 game in the world."

    Yeah Halo is great, ain't it.


  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #19 4 years ago

    @The_Inquisitor. It is quite possible that MS didn't know about this. ;) What would be the point in lying - surely the promise of DLC would be the selling point, not when it was released. Maybe if there was a year difference between the expected date and the actual date it would be worth twisting the truth but for roughly three months?

    I'm not saying either way as none of us know, but when you look at the facts it doesn't seem to make much sense to lie.

    I suspect this is just to do with keeping shares strong in an attempt to fight off EA.

    As for the delay, I'm not too fussed as I don't think I'll be ready for it anyway. Would be nice to have something for over Christmas though.

  • ParanoidZombie #20 4 years ago

    Too bad, in Q1 2009 I won't be playing this game any more. You can tell the prick that he won't get my money.

  • paulf #21 4 years ago

    'One trick pony anyone?'

    not a bad pony to earn though ...

  • keyboardmonkey #22 4 years ago

    'One trick pony anyone?'

    Yes but what a trick!

  • mossychops001 #23 4 years ago

    GTA4360DLCLOL

  • systems #24 4 years ago

    A Christmas release will be fine and Left4Dead will be out by then anyway so dry your tears guys.

  • The_Inquisitor #25 4 years ago

    I'm not saying they lied, just that it's quite possible that it was know before hand and yet there was little reason to advertise it so far in advance, seeing that delays are so rife in the games industry. If they didn't know in advance, it was very much an opportunist move.

  • The-Bodybuilder #26 4 years ago

    Screw that, I'm not holding on to this game till next year.

  • johnnybrn #27 4 years ago

    Hey PS3 fanboys, its delayed not cancelled! ;)

  • Widge #28 4 years ago

    Whats that? Pre-emptive defence just in case a negative article is used as a basis for an attack on a platform. What people would DO such a thing though....

  • muscleblade #29 4 years ago

    "ah well, by then most people will have moved on to gears 2 anyway "

    You make it sound like its impossible to play more than one game within the same time period.
    Of course i will be playing Gears 2 alot after its release but i wont just let other games collect dust on my shelf.

  • DAN.E.B #30 4 years ago

    oh well i traded it in anyway it had the same problems the others had

  • The-Bodybuilder #31 4 years ago

    >"ha ha ha... priceless."

    It isn't priceless, it cost 50mil.

  • septimus #32 4 years ago

    Yay, 360 has DLC. But damn we will make sure you pay through the ass for it! We need the cash moneyz!

    I hope they do as Epic did, and make it free after a while. 100% never going to happen, but still, hope.

  • drumbaby #33 4 years ago

    Titter.

  • NoQuarter #34 4 years ago

    Did MS actually advertise the DLC? The LCD Soundsystem advert didn't mention it, I've only heard it in interviews (which probably 80% of purchasers have never read).

  • muftak #35 4 years ago

    @NoQuarter

    i belive it said it on the back of the box.

    well wasnt that worth the money to get the advatage over sony.

    :p

  • WinterSnowblind #36 4 years ago

    @muscleblade

    Saints Row was delayed due to the ridiculous amount of bugs. Just read some previews of it, and after their recent trailer, I don't think they have a problem competing with GTA. It's something they may actually pull off.

  • Kill_Crazy #37 4 years ago

    Isn't the 1st quarter of fiscal 2009 april to june? As tax year (fiscal year) starts april.

  • Kill_Crazy #38 4 years ago

    Double post FTL
    Edited by 1 at 06/06/08 @ 10:48

  • kangarootoo #39 4 years ago

    @muscleblade

    "Saints Row 2 was delayed because of the GTAIV DLC. Now the GTA IV DLC is delayed to compete with SR2 again."

    Why on earth would anyone want to delay their product, specifically to put it in competition against a competitor. It makes no sense.

    It has clearly been delayed to increase revenue in the next quarter. No biggy really, they are in business after all. Are people really desperately in need of new content for GTA:IV yet?

  • Luvbeers #40 4 years ago

    That's fine... it will take me until then to complete GTA IV anyways with BF:BC, Star Wars: FU, GoW2, etc. in the pipes.

  • keyboardmonkey #41 4 years ago

    @kill_crazy

    I have always thought that as well for the fiscal tax year. However it seems due to globalisation the fiscal year now runs jan-dec. I guess tax is collected a different times from country to country.

  • miiiguel #42 4 years ago

    no one really gives a shit, but I'll brag anyway: 100% at GTA!!!!! yay!

  • chrisjm #43 4 years ago

    havent they already got the advance from this so why should if effect what financial period its released in if they already have the cash? unless MS havent paid up yet.

  • AliRay #44 4 years ago

    Can we stop the GTA4 hate please?

    I swear, some of you guys wouldn't know an amazing game if someone slapped you round the face with it, geez.

    I've just completed it, and loved the missions, all the improvements made (cover mechanic, new driving model), and the storyline kept me hooked all the way through, which is more than i can say for a lot of games I've played recently.

  • miiiguel #45 4 years ago

    why are you worried about MS wallet ? 50 mil? pocket change...

    I mean... UNO alone scored 5 million. FFS... UNO!
    Edited by 1 at 06/06/08 @ 11:23

  • RazorObsession #46 4 years ago

    i'm savouring the GTA taste, but it will surely be over before the year is out. already done the pigeons, the jumps, the random encounters and basically all of the side missions, with a lot of multiplayer and sandboxing instead of finishing the missions.

    i dont wanna be such a GTA junkie that i will just buy the content no matter whats in it and at any price, but i was kinda hoping for it a bit sooner, or at the very least some kind of announcement as to what we can expect from it.

    my moneys on no new land mass to explore, but a hell of a lot of building interiors fully fleshed out, filled with appropriate people and quests. hopefully a parachute, and some real estate purchasing too.

  • timberwolf #47 4 years ago

    ha ha.

  • evilcoffee #48 4 years ago

    Highly unlikely but I wish there was seasonality - Liberty City in winter would be spectacular.

  • Widge #49 4 years ago

    Yes, seasonally adjusting games would be nice, but oh so reliant on people playing it at all times of the year.

    Isn't there meant to be OTHER DLC too? Outside of the MS agreement? I wonder if thats coming any time soon.

    I would expect an extra shop or too. Or house.

  • IneptPercy #50 4 years ago

    Microsoft have done a Sony....

    I mean promising things to get the edge on competition and then delaying...

  • Les #51 4 years ago

    "Welcome to software development, specifically GAMES development... things slip, they always do. Move along."

    True, but they very likely knew that well before the adds were generated but kept their mouths shut. Worse even, they tried to lure consumers with advertising DLC for autumn while they knew it wouldn't hit until 2009. Very ethical approach. Given the strong ethical convictions of the average 360 owner, I expect announcements of ritual 360 burnings this weekend... Bad, bad Microsoft.

  • Les #52 4 years ago

    "I mean promising things to get the edge on competition and then delaying..."

    Well, actually it would be more accurate to say that MS has done a Sony that has done an MS. Astroturfing has been a common ingredient of Microsoft marketing since well before Windows 95... ;)
    Edited by 1 at 06/06/08 @ 12:17

  • miiiguel #53 4 years ago

    ^^ Same guy that said "who gives a shit about DLC anyway?"


    "You spin me right round, baby
    Right round like a record, baby
    Right round round round"

    la-la-la... and shit...

    edit: "Given the strong ethical convictions of the average 360 owner", pitfull how some (few) ppl trully believe that owning a 360 is a sign of a lesser individual.
    Edited by 1 at 06/06/08 @ 12:19

  • SeesThroughAll #54 4 years ago

    It's not Microsoft's fault on this.
    Take-Two just had to adjust their schedule.

    And this is coming from a Microsoft hater.
    Edited by 1 at 06/06/08 @ 13:41

  • Ryze #55 4 years ago

    Hmmm. I reckon we'll see it in Nov. I can't see it not coming out before Christmas, as it's prbably already playable. There's no PS3 involved to delay anything either.

  • Les #56 4 years ago

    "It's not Microsoft's fault on this. Take-Two just had to adjust their schedule."

    Might be the case but I expect that MS has known about this for quite some time. Given their million dollar investment they're bound to pay close attention to its progress. And still they tried to lure people to the 360 version through advertising an autumn date for the DLC...

  • MilkYMoO #57 4 years ago

    This probably means that the downloadable content will be really good now, instead of them rushing out something like a few extra streets, hookers and new vehicles.

  • Les #58 4 years ago

    "HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!

    That's what you get for being smug gits."

    Not a very mature reaction me thinks...

  • beastmaster #59 4 years ago

    Produce a patch for the main plot missions not kicking in and I'll be happy.

  • Amon_Amarth #60 4 years ago

    microsoft is fucking with 360 owners but suprisingly they love it and defend 360 againist ps3. At the end this epizodes will come out on PS3 same day as on 360 just like full game, i can bet my money on that