Rockstar: Exclusivity does work

Take 2 Interactive and Rockstar president Ben Feder has been waxing lyrical about platform holder Sony in the wake of the news that upcoming title Agent will be a PS3 exclusive.

The trade-offs a publisher will typically make is, if you’re platform-agnostic, you get a larger installed base,” Feder told GameSpot. You’re platform exclusive when you get the right kind of support from first parties.

At this phase in the cycle, when you’re trying to launch a new franchise, exclusivity can really help you launch the franchise. It can give you the kind of platform that you need to start exclusive, start in the right kind of way with the right kind of partner. Exclusivity does work.

I have a lot of confidence in Sony. I have a lot of confidence in their ability to lead the market, as they always have. Their console is a terrific platform to be developing for, and Agent is a great testament as to our belief in what that platform can do, and what they can do with us as part of a partnership.”

Agent is currently in development at Grand Theft Auto IV studio Rockstar North, and whilst little is known of the title as of yet, its pedigree alone already makes it a must-watch title.

We think Agent has the potential to be yet another great Rockstar North franchise title,” Feder added.

It’s the Houser Brothers and Rockstar North. It’s the A team working on a triple-A title. I think the subject matter, the characters, the story, the environment, the background – all the elements are there. It’s such a rich environment to play in.”