Rockstar announces GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony, coming to Xbox Live and retail compilation

by Griffin McElroy on May 26th 2009 4:35PM

The second episode of Rockstar's promised downloadable expansions to Grand Theft Auto IV has been announced! The cheeky developer revealed the DLC as The Ballad of Gay Tony, which places you in the (assumed) fancy shoes of Luis Lopez, a "part-time hoodlum and full-time assistant to legendary nightclub impresario Tony Prince" (or "Gay Tony"), the titular bar mogul who made a number of appearances in GTA IV.

While we're sure to hear more about the particulars of Gay Tony during E3, the method of the game's release should prove to be interesting as well. Not only will the expansion hit Xbox Live this fall for $19.99, it'll also appear on a retail disc with The Lost and Damned. This retail disc, titled Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, won't contain the core GTA IV game -- nor will it require GTA IV to play. It'll hit store shelves in the fall, selling for $39.99. We'll let you know more when we know more!

Source

Tags: dlc, episodes-from-liberty-city, grand-theft-auto-iv-the-ballad-of-gay-tony, gta-iv-dlc, gtaiv, Microsoft, rockstar, the-ballad-of-gay-tony, the-lost-and-damned, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (145)

$40 for two dlc content when combined are much longer than games that are $50 or even $60?

Yep that's right.

Just play the damn game and have fun.

EDIT: Thread officially closed. Everyone chill out and get back to THE GAME. Still not a politics forum, folks.

Darn, too bad Joystiq edited it out. : (

you just lost the game

As said above, there may be other episodes being shown off at E3 or later. Rockstar seems to be some hard ass workers and I bet they can't wait to show their PS3 fans some love. If it weren't for the playstaion crowd, GTA wouldn't be where it is today.

I will be downloading this on Live as soon as it is released. I am curious about the achievements though.

Wow so you delete my comment because you didn't like what I had to say but it's ok if Jeebus goes off right?

Perfect example, whatever it's your website.

I did edit him as well. Not trying to push views in either direction, just don't want people arguing politics on Joystiq, as you can likely understand. Feel free to discuss this with me personally if you'd like (ben@joystiq.com). That being said, no one else should be attacking this gentleman for his views, regardless. Fighting on the Internet doesn't do anyone any good.

that's what you think Gilbert! I say we throwdown fisticuffs right here right now!

The Pitt was pretty short, and really didnt offer that much of an explorable area, it looked cool but most of it was unreachable, also Shivering Isles was for oblivion, not Fable 2, Fable 2's DLC has however been overpriced or really short

Here's a question, I was planning on getting The Lost and Damned in the next little bit. Should I just go ahead and get it, or wait and get the disc with both of the episodes?

just wait, it'll save you money and there's plenty else to pay

I fail to see how it will save him ANY money at all.

The retail DLC disc will be $40...
Both DLC's separate - $20...

If anything he would SAVE money (by not having to pay sales tax) on the DLC's.

Can't wait. I'm so glad I have a 360, as much as I'd love MGS4 I would rather have these two add ons (i'm a huge gta fan).

Oh and to the people saying the disc may be multi-platform heres a quote from the IGN article "This disc will hit retail this fall, exclusively for Xbox 360" .

The only thing you say that's really valid is the fact that it's the same city.. but considering how large and realistic the city was, I didn't think it was a problem, especially as the PSP games already recycled the PS2-era cities which were far less interesting.

Going back to Liberty City and seeing it from a completely different perspective was great, it definitely didn't feel at all like "been there done that" to me.

Roto13 @ May 26th 2009 5:47PM

Grand Theft Auto has a really crappy track record handling homosexuality. Don't expect anything tasteful in this. Just offensive stereotypes.

the acts of homosexuality arent exactly tasteful to begin with.

inb4 edit

Yes, so much different than acts of heterosexuality. I love watching ignorant people embarrass themselves. Another person afraid of his latent urges.

Anyhoo - Awesome job Rockstar. I was wondering how they would handle the controversy at the retail level (retailers having to display the marketing and such) but I guess they're getting around it with the "Episodes" title; not having to display the 'Gay Tony' part. Kind of a cop-out actually if that's the only way it plays out.

I love it though - challenge social conventions and watch the bigots make fools of themselves in their indignation.

The acts of your heterosexuality aren't exactly tasteful to begin with.

my friend Tony Lopez is gonna get a kick out of this one.

Damned if joystiq isn't really stepping up to clear the field of landmines around here. Good job, maybe?

Humans are dirty, squishy, tasteless blobs regardless of sexual preference. Deal with it.

Stupid reply fail. This was supposed to be at ChuckJ earlier.

goddammit, do i have to say "DISREGARD THAT (...)" again?
im sorry... but that was what i read.

Leave it to Rockstar to keep bringing flavor to videogames, this should be very interesting. And hilarious to boot.

Did they really have to put the word "Gay" in there? Why couldn't it just be "The Ballad of Tony"? It's pretty sad to think Rockstar would put that in there to turn a few heads and sell a few extra copies, but it wouldn't be too far I guess, we are talking about Rockstar. I'd like to see them release their next pack and call it "The Return of Straight Nico".

because the characters name is Gay Tony. That's why, he was in the main game and the DLC. Remember when you had to go on an internet date with French Tom to kill him? He mentions that Gay Tony acts rich but is really poor, Bernie Crane mentions gay Tony, and you steal his diamonds. In the game the guy is a local celebrity, known as Gay Tony. Deal with it man

Thats it i cant take it anymore. I love my ps3, but I have to play this game. I'm buying a 360

I love the title of this game. GTA rocks. Always taking chances, pushing the envelope.

WTF i'll pass up this episode

Finally! Another item can be scratched off the Gay Agenda.

Hmmm... well, I hope The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony aren't the only DLC episodes Rockstar will release for GTA IV.

I also hope the PC and PlayStation 3 get some love, as well.

If this is what microsoft payed 50 mil for, they are really taking it in the a$$!!

did not know dude was a homo

This is going to be hilarious, I just know it. There's no way this is going to suck and everyone here knows it. Managing a nightclub is probably crazier then everyone thinks it is.

First the schlong issue then Gay Tony. GTA is getting just a little queer isn't it.

Yay for more gayness in media!

i dont see why people are going all " ooh gay " about it , you play as lois NOT gay tony

good that you dont need GTA to play it since I got the PS3 version of GTA. Now I'll be able to play both DLC on disc and not have to worry about eating up all my HD space.

You guys ever going to stop giving your money to Rockstar so that maybe this crap will stop?

GTA IV & TLAD was awesome, and if you can cope with the main character of this DLC being gay, which you really should be able to, it'll probably be awesome as well

recession is only going to get worse in Liberty city now that all those hookers are going to be out of work :(

i can"t wait

you don"t know anithing about grand theft auto you"re a bad guy

fuck you

TLAD was amazing so this should be too!

Previous 50 Comments

Rockstar announces GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony, coming to Xbox Live and retail compilation

Reader Comments (145)

Posted: May 26th 2009 6:59PM Vegeta has a ps3 said

Posted: May 26th 2009 5:48PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 26th 2009 5:57PM RKN said

Posted: May 26th 2009 5:58PM RKN said

Posted: May 26th 2009 6:20PM TheDarkWayne said

Posted: May 26th 2009 5:57PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 26th 2009 6:01PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 26th 2009 6:07PM Benjamin Gilbert said

Posted: May 26th 2009 6:18PM TheDarkWayne said

Posted: May 26th 2009 6:20PM TheDarkWayne said

Posted: May 26th 2009 6:34PM TheMainProtagonist said

Posted: May 26th 2009 6:39PM TheDarkWayne said

Posted: May 27th 2009 11:45AM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 26th 2009 6:36PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 26th 2009 6:36PM Snowblind said

Posted: May 26th 2009 6:44PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 26th 2009 6:45PM TheDarkWayne said

Posted: May 26th 2009 7:58PM OnToGloryReturns said

Posted: May 26th 2009 8:13PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 26th 2009 6:57PM RobAccomando said

Posted: May 26th 2009 6:57PM Mr Khan said

Posted: May 26th 2009 6:59PM Vordus said

Posted: May 26th 2009 7:00PM Vordus said

Posted: May 26th 2009 6:59PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 26th 2009 7:08PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 26th 2009 7:13PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: May 26th 2009 8:30PM TheDarkWayne said

Posted: May 26th 2009 8:23PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 26th 2009 8:42PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 26th 2009 9:13PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 26th 2009 9:58PM Naoki7 said

Posted: May 26th 2009 10:36PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 26th 2009 11:11PM toptekjon said

Posted: May 27th 2009 12:34AM ChiTownRuler23 said

Posted: May 27th 2009 2:37AM OmegaIXIUltima said

Posted: May 27th 2009 3:11AM Cafecito said

Posted: May 27th 2009 5:57AM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 27th 2009 6:11AM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 27th 2009 8:49AM Drdre74 said

Posted: May 27th 2009 9:12AM Gemini Ace said

Posted: May 27th 2009 10:34AM TheDarkWayne said

Posted: May 27th 2009 11:50AM swimtedswim said

Posted: May 28th 2009 3:02PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 28th 2009 3:10PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 3rd 2009 6:11PM Peace Fog said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall

Featured Stories

Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world

Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation

Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW