Overview

• Sony pursued exclusive rights for Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City, and San Andreas in response to the launch of Microsoft's original Xbox in 2001.
• Chris Deering, former president of PlayStation Europe, stated that Sony viewed exclusivity as a critical strategy to maintain its competitive edge in the gaming market.
• The exclusivity deal with Take-Two Interactive granted PlayStation a two-year lead on these titles, which became massive hits and best-sellers for the PlayStation 2.
• At the time of the agreement, Sony did not anticipate the Grand Theft Auto franchise's meteoric rise, as earlier entries in the series had a more niche appeal.
• The exclusivity arrangement ended with GTA IV, which launched simultaneously on both PlayStation and Xbox, though Sony continued to collaborate with Rockstar on later titles.