GTA IV 40GB PlayStation 3 bundle surfaces in Europe

If you're still licking your lips while gazing at that limited edition GTA IV Xbox 360 Elite, you may have the opportunity to make your GTA-branded console ownership dreams come true in a slightly different manner. Out of seemingly nowhere, a Grand Theft Auto IV PlayStation 3 bundle has popped up on a Swedish retailer's website, offering a 40GB PS3, a copy of the game, a decorated box and little else (DualShock 3?). Judging by the package art, we're guessing there's no suave paint job waiting on either side, and Webhallen has the unit priced at 4,499 SEK (or about $755). Before you ask -- there's no telling whether this thing is headed stateside or not, but surely Sony / Rockstar Games wouldn't let such a moneymaker swim around the US of A, right?

[Via N4G, thanks John]

[Whaleman @ Apr 7th 2008 1:39PM]

@cduran01 It would be more accurate to say that 4495SEK equals $600 + sales tax, yes (25% in Sweden and everything from 17.5% and up to ur 25% in the rest of Europe).

This doesn't lessen Sony's overcharging in Scandinavia though. Where everybody else (not only consoles, but all electronics) charge 10SEK per Euro (current exchange rate is 9.37, so it's a good enough estimate to add for our higher than average sales tax), Sony takes 11.25SEK per Euro. This leaves them 12.5% higher than the competition and that's not really fair.

It's not that hard to understand why Scandinavia is one of the few regions in Europe where the 360 still is king though.

[w @ Apr 7th 2008 3:16PM]

the swedish average monthly salary it's worth about $5000.


i hope this helps to put things in perspective.

[Ladderless @ Apr 7th 2008 1:11PM]

Is this a bundle put together by Sony, or just a bundle put together by the retailer, complete with a drawing of a box?

[Andy @ Apr 7th 2008 1:35PM]

Official from Sony. Retailers are not allowed to redo the box.

[Simon Skoog @ Apr 7th 2008 1:33PM]

The price for this bundle would be $399 in the us.

Just like the $399 bundle in the us is 4499sek here atm.

That's why we import our games =)

[will @ Apr 7th 2008 1:35PM]

the 360 version is not better cos the exclusive episodes have nothing to do with the game. the game is something, the episodes are something else, they wont even be free.
the ps3 version is exactly the same as the ps3 version, even the contol layout is.
by the way its not 755$ that is the exchange rate for the USD and SEK, in europe itll cost €399.

p.s microsoft have scammed rockstar cos they gave them the money for the content and they will get the money back when r* put the episoded onto xbox live. r* have been stupid themselves not to put the episodes onto psn cos:
1: the episodes have to be a limited size on xbox and on psn they can be any size.
2: not every xbox owner has a hard drive to put the episodes on and every ps3 come with a hard drive as standard.
3: if 10 million people have xbox live out of 17 million, how many of them have a hard drive? 5 mil?

any psn users can add me: williams-234

[SAGExSDX @ Apr 7th 2008 1:40PM]

grossly misinformed.

1) the size limit is for XBLA games. there is no size limit to DLC.

2) ok so the users who don't have hard drives wont get the DLC

3) ok so the users who don't have hard drives wont get the DLC

like you said about the money ms paid rockstar, ms gets any money up till 50 million for when DLC is bought. so if fewer people buy it, it's not rockstar that's getting screwed, it's ms.

[will @ Apr 7th 2008 1:59PM]

o think you will fid that you are grossly misinformed because all developers are having trouble putting hd content onto xbox live cos the download limit is 15 mb. if you dont belive me check pages on google news

[Heath Stahl @ Apr 7th 2008 2:18PM]

Not sure where you're getting your info from Will but you are wrong. There is no 15MB size limit for DLC on Live. If that were the case all of the Rock Band DLC I've purchased is my imagination b/c it over 15MB each. Not to mention the COD 4 map pack that was almost 450MB.

[Andy @ Apr 7th 2008 2:20PM]

You really are stupid (well your source is - no person offense intended)because how come I have just downloaded COD 4 map packs (DLC) that are about 400mb and have seen 300 in HD that took up a whopping 6.7GB with full surround sound. Please tell me what search you used that person ought to be shot (not literally) since this has never been case - although admittedly arcade games are now limited to 150mb. (btw I love brackets).

On the actual subject looks very tempting

Prices in the uk

PS3 - no games is normally £300

Xbox 360 pro (normal with 20gb) - £200
elite £250
arcade £150

[Ninjakamster @ Apr 7th 2008 1:56PM]

I don't understand why all Xbox consoles had an HDD but not true for the 360, why did they go back? Hmm the original did use 3.5" HDDs and the 360 uses 2.5" ones.

[kinshadow @ Apr 7th 2008 2:58PM]

Because the PS2's HDD was optional and it slammed the original Xbox in price. MS wants to more price agressive this gen, so they made the HDD optional.

[mel @ Apr 7th 2008 2:15PM]

I first bought a PS2 because of GTA III. Now I will be buying a PS3 because of GTA IV (ok and blu-ray too). However I will not be buying an SKU without backwards compatibility, this is a dealbreaker. I guess I'll be waiting until they can replenish the 80GB version. And unfortunately for Sony I think they are missing out on a ton of sales that will coincide with the massively hyped April 29th release of this game, more so than even MSG I'd reckon.

[jumanji @ Apr 7th 2008 2:18PM]

Atari Jaguar FTW!!!

[Dale @ Apr 7th 2008 3:28PM]

Play have a 360 premium + GTA bundle at £200 ($400) ! http://www.play.com/Games/Xbox360/4-/5387997/Xbox-360-Premium-Console-%20-Grand-Theft-Auto-IV/Product.html?P36=7ZXZYK

[Brian Markle @ Apr 7th 2008 3:52PM]

Needs to be cheaper

[Adrian @ Apr 7th 2008 4:16PM]

Ok guys, for a bigger official picture go to http://www.gameblog.ro/2008/04/07/ultimul-update-gta-iv/

Also, the price is confirmed 439E in Europe for this bundle!

[Whaleman @ Apr 7th 2008 4:56PM]

I would find it highly amusing if Microsoft decided to release a GTA IV bundle as well. Seeing how the Xbox 360 20GB SKU is SEK 2695 (MSRP) and the game will cost SEK 599, seeing them drop a matching bundle at SEK 2995 and undercut Sony's price by a third. If nothing else then to push Sony to at least drop the extra "scandinavian fee".

I just hope that when I finally do buy my PS3, I will not have to pay more than needed. As it is now, I could probably take a car and drive all the way to Germany to get it cheaper. People in Denmark definitely should be able to at least...


...actually I know for a fact that I could not take a car and drive it to germany to get it cheaper... since I don't have a license.

[fred @ Apr 7th 2008 7:47PM]

europe gets all the good stuff.

[Dave @ Apr 8th 2008 5:43AM]

AWESOME!!!

[Scott @ Apr 9th 2008 12:04AM]

Whatever... I'm tired of these silly European bundles that will apparently never make their way stateside. I've been shopping for a PS3 for well over a month, waiting for SOMETHING new to appear in the form of a bundle or even the white PS3 (which I dislike anyway). Last weekend I was done waiting and bought the 40GB model with some gift cards. CC had a free controller thrown in and I'll just seel the Spiderman 3 disk on Ebay for more of a 'savings.'

For those of you planning to buy a console, just look for deals on the current SKU's that will be closing out and buy GTA when it hits stores. Meantime you can start playing NOW.