Shane Kim, Microsoft Game Studios’ corporate vice president has been tossed many questions this past week. Aside from answering most of them honestly, he also had something to say about the upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV release on Xbox 360. Kim believes that the 360 has owned that launch, and with the right marketing the franchise that fortified the PS2 could do the same for the 360.

Speaking with Wired Magazine’s Chris Kohler, Shane Kim said, ”We already own it, I believe, from a content standpoint, because we have the exclusive episodes. And so Xbox 360 is still going to have the ultimate experience for GTAIV. But we have to make sure the customers know that. Because if you look back, again, to the role of GTAIII and what that played in terms of PS2's development -- in Europe as well, because it was huge in Europe -- GTAIV, first time on our platforms, so that's a great opportunity for us. We need to take advantage of it.”

Kim goes on to acknowledge that there is a lot of marketing work to be done to accomplish this goal. But he’s confident with the exclusive content and what the 360 has to offer to gamers in America and Europe we’ll see GTAIV come out the other side of its release as a 360 title first. The question is not whether Shane Kim believes it to be true – or even if it is – the real question is whether Microsoft can convince the loyalists who recognize GTA as a Playstation franchise.