Sony recently made the PSN version of Grand Theft Auto V available to pre-order, which has resulted in the leaking of certain assets, including the soundtrack and unfounded rumours of story spoilers (we don’t want to check, either!).
Now they’ve apologised for the leak, issuing a statement on the PlayStation Blog:
Regrettably, some people who downloaded the digital pre-order of Grand Theft Auto V through the PlayStation Store in Europe were able to access certain GTA V assets. These assets were posted online. We have since removed the digital pre-order file from the PlayStation Store in Europe. We sincerely apologize to Rockstar and GTA fans across the world who were exposed to the spoiler content. GTA V is one of the most highly anticipated games of the year with a very passionate following, and we’re looking forward to a historic launch on 17th September.
Hopefully this doesn’t damage their relationship with Rockstar soon before what might just be the biggest game launch in history. As always, watch out in case there are story spoilers floating around the web; this is one game you don’t want any part of ruined.
TSBonyman
I don’t think it will hurt GTA V much, so long as the ending isn’t indiscriminately posted everywhere on the web without a spoiler warning. I’m sure most people who are interested in the game will not actively look up the ending before playing it.
Besides, if you follow the sales charts, GTA IV has been re-entering the top 20 on and off ever since it launched, so many people continue buying the game long after the ending has been made available or revealed online.
It’s still a clanger for certain, although i don’t think it’s going to be such a big deal in the long run.
yiddo
You’re right. Sales will DEFINITELY not be hurt. Nobody gets GTA just for the story. Whilst the story could be great (like RDR was) it’s the gameplay and freedom that is king.
Also, this is why we can’t have nice things. Pre loading will probably be canned for a while now, but it is a nice thing to have. Shame hackers have destroyed that too purely for their need to know everything RIGHT NOW and to get e-fame for spreading it online.
beeje13
It’s all publicity for the game and that’s great for Rockstar.
HunterGatherer
Hackers/Pirates(same thing) ruining it for everyone yet again. First they cause OtherOS to be removed, and now pre-loads likely to be canned in the future.
Kitch
Massive difference between hackers and pirates. Hackers don’t get a parrot, peg leg and cool hat.
Plus pirates are scum. Hackers are not.
Starman
So GTA5 will presumably be on all the torrents next week.
HunterGatherer
No, the game is double encrypted. Once by Rockstar, once by Sony, so both companies need to send out the keys to unlock the pre-download games to run. (only the game engine is encrypted, not the game assets).
However the only way you would be able to access the game assets, is whith a hacked console, hence my comment above about the same old hackers and pirates ruining a good thing for everyone else.
colmshan1990
Who actually plays GTA for the story anyway?
They’re never exactly The Last of Us or Bioshock, are they?