Sony Signs Deal With Rockstar

Sony has signed an exclusive deal with Rockstar Games to develop a franchise for the PS3.   Rockstar is the companythat brought us the Grand Theft Auto series. At present no ideas have been bandied around as to the content of the games. This kind of deal is very rare in the games industry; it’s more usualfor developers to see how a console does before signing such a deal.   “We are announcing that a new franchise from Rockstar Games will be exclusive to PS3,” wrote Michael Shorrock,director of 3rd Party Relations at Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA), on the company’s official PlayStation blog. “As part of ourlongstanding relationship with Rockstar, and the incredible success for both companies with the cultural icon that is “Grand Theft Auto,” we’ve agreed to the PlayStation exclusive rightsof the next franchise from the Rockstar studios.”   Sony has chosen Rockstar not just because of its success with GTA – and “Manhunt 2,” which was banned in Britain andreceived an “adults only” rating in the U.S. – but because it pushes the envelope.   Sony is hoping that this alliance will help boost the PS3, whose sales have been less thanstellar, in spite of a price cut.