The former Sony executive touched on the history of the console by discussing the strategic decisions made for PlayStation. Accordingly, the GTA Vice City and San Andreas deals with Rockstar Games during the PlayStation 2 era sent console sales soaring.
GTA Vice City and San Andreas were very important during the PlayStation 2 era
Speaking at EGX London, former Sony Computer Entertainment Europe President Chris Deering gave a behind-the-scenes look at the PlayStation’s growth in the gaming industry. According to Deering, one of the keys to success lay in Sony’s exclusive deals for the GTA series.
In the face of the threat posed by its Xbox, Sony offered its developer partners a two-year, PlayStation-only release of its next-generation titles. This strategy paid off, especially with Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto series.
The exclusive release of GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas on the PlayStation 2 contributed greatly to the console’s sales. Accordingly, it is the best-selling console in history.
The company was aware of the power of exclusive games in attracting users and consolidating its market share. In this context, it reached agreements with major studios, especially Rockstar, and developed exclusive games for PlayStation.
Beyond the GTA deal, Deering shared other interesting anecdotes from PlayStation’s 30-year history. He discussed industry analysts’ initial doubts about the PS2’s potential, the challenges faced during the development of the PS3, and even the internal debate over the PS4’s lack of a built-in camera.