Xboxist

Sources Confirm More GTA IV DLC in 2010

A source close to Rockstar has confirmed to us that the development studio will be releasing two additional dowloadable content packs for Grand Theft Auto IV, that both of them will be coming to the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, and that one of them will focus on the Irish families that Nico helped in the first episode. This confirms earlier rumors circulating around E3 that Rockstar was planning to release a DLC episode called Blood and a Four Leaf Clover.

Sources from outside of Rockstar have also independently confirmed this report. According to Kaufman Bros. analyst Todd Mitchell, Take-Two and Rockstar are expected to release these two brand new downloadable episodes for Grand Theft Auto IV in fiscal 2010, and are gearing up to release GTA V the following financial year.

Microsoft allegedly paid up to $50 million to support development of two exclusive downloadable episodes for the Xbox 360,The Lost and the Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony. While Rockstar has been tight lipped about actual sales numbers, it is estimated that Lost and Damned has sold more than 1 million units, making it the number one selling game add-on available on Xbox Live. Following the commercial success and high quality of The Lost and Damned, Rockstar wishes to extend the life of GTA IV as far as possible while it works on the true follow-up.

We just hope that by the time these downloadable episodes arrive on the Xbox 360, we still have time to play them. Grand Theft Auto IV is no longer the only open-world shooter in town, and 360 owners have tons of other high-quality releases in 2010 to look forward to, such as Alan Wake and Crackdown 2.

A screenshot from GTA IV downloadable episode The Lost and Damned.