Here we go with round 3 of GTA IV DLC drama. First, Microsoft told us a while back that the initial batch of Xbox 360 exclusive DLC would be out this fall, probably sometime in November. Rockstar came back and said no way, we won’t have this puppy ready until next year, and now Microsoft is back at it once more, splitting the difference and saying that we’ll all be getting our prostitute-killing, cop-fleeing fix during the holiday season.

In a recent press release detailing the Xbox 360 European price cuts, Microsoft slipped in the following sentence to work us up into a lather:

"Continuing its blistering pace on the Xbox 360 platform, the first of the Xbox 360 exclusive downloadable episodes for this record-breaking game will be available this autumn - the only console with new Grand Theft Auto IV content available this Christmas."

We don’t have confirmation from Rockstar, but after what happened last time I’m assuming the two companies have at least talked about this a little and are doing a better job of coordinating on the big announcements. We’ll just go ahead and assume Microsoft isn’t talking out of their butts in a clear case of wishful thinking. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...