Rockstar: PS3 "Contributing Factor" to GTA4 Delay

Rockstar product development VP Jeronimo Barerra has revealed that technical issues with the PS3 were partly to blame for last fall's delay of Rockstar North's Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3, X360).

"It's really no surprise to anybody that the PS3 was definitely a contributing factor to that," Barerra told MTV. "Now, we're neck and neck. That's not an issue anymore. But back then that was something we were taking into account."

Grand Theft Auto IV missed its original release window last fall and is now scheduled for release on PS3 and X360 April 29. The Xbox 360 version of GTA4 will be receiving two exclusive downloadable episodes, one before November of 2008 and one after.

At the time of the delay, Rockstar attributed the action to technical issues with both systems, though it was widely speculated that problems with the PlayStation 3 version were the root cause.

Barerra went on to assure fans that the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the title were functionally identical, and that the delay made for a better game in the end. "I think we made the right choice... it's just going to be that much better and there will be more systems out."