Rockstar clarifies GTA IV multiplayer on 360 and PS3

With its release date finally set in stone (April 29) and its official Web site finally churning out plenty of content to appease expectant fans, you’d think the furore surrounding Grand Theft Auto IV would begin to subside. No such chance. Rockstar quashes vague Microsoft comments. GTA IV multiplayer is not exclusive to Xbox 360. Credit: Rockstar.

Rockstar quashes vague Microsoft comments. GTA IV multiplayer is not exclusive to Xbox 360. Credit: Rockstar.More pointedly, Microsoft senior VP of Interactive Entertainment Don Mattrick has this week thrown the cat amongst the Sony fanboys by claiming that the Xbox 360 version of Rockstar’s sandbox spectacular will contain multiplayer elements exclusive to Microsoft’s console.“It’s an amazing piece of software, and I’m really excited with its downloadable content and online multiplayer support -- again, that’s something that’s unique to 360,” said Mattrick while speaking with Xbox Live guru Major Nelson. “We think consumers are going to love that, and it’s going to create what I would describe, again, as the premium experience on our platform.”

Rockstar Games outlines that online multiplayer will be available for PS3 and Xbox 360 players. Credit: Marcin Wichary.

Predictably, PlayStation 3 fans began weeping openly in the streets following Mattrick’s claims -- not least because an exclusive deal between Microsoft and Rockstar has already secured episodic download content for the Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV.Thankfully the threat of countrywide flooding has now been averted thanks to Rockstar Games shooting Mattrick’s (we think, misconstrued) comments out the window in a Grand Theft Auto IV drive-by statement of clarification regarding the game’s multiplayer components.“It’s always something we’ve been open about, both versions will support online multiplayer capabilities,” said the controversy-loving developer in a note to GamesIndustry.biz.So, there you have it PlayStation 3 fans, episodic content might have slipped through Sony’s grasp at this moment in time, but online multiplayer is seemingly safe. Hey, is that Microsoft getting its cheque book out?