Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony (TBoGT) is the second of two downloadable expansions for Grand Theft Auto IV. It was released on Xbox 360 on October 29, 2009, and later for PlayStation 3 and Windows on April 13, 2010. The expansion shifts the series' focus from Liberty City’s criminal underworld to its glamorous and high-stakes nightclub scene. Players take control of a new protagonist, Luis Fernando Lopez, and experience a range of new content, including a full story campaign, additional vehicles and weapons, side activities such as Club Management and Base Jumping, and the series’ first mission scoring system.
Overview / Description
Developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games, The Ballad of Gay Tony was created to provide a contrasting experience to the biker-focused expansion, The Lost and Damned. Sam Houser, founder of Rockstar Games, described the episode as emphasizing "high-end nightlife" while offering a wide range of new gameplay possibilities. According to Rockstar, the expansion "injects Liberty City with an overdose of guns, glitz, and grime."1
The story follows Luis Fernando Lopez, who works as the full-time assistant and occasional enforcer for nightclub mogul Anthony "Gay Tony" Prince. The narrative explores themes of loyalty as Luis tries to balance his responsibilities to family and friends with the increasingly chaotic life of Tony, who struggles with drug addiction and mounting debts to dangerous criminal organizations. The events of the expansion run alongside the timelines of Grand Theft Auto IV and The Lost and Damned, with storylines intersecting at several key points. The Ballad of Gay Tony was initially released as a digital download for $19.99 and was later included alongside the first expansion in the Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City compilation.
New Content
New Features
The Ballad of Gay Tony introduced several new gameplay mechanics and systems to the Grand Theft Auto IV engine:
- Mission Scoring: For the first time in the series, players are given a score and a statistical summary upon completing a mission, allowing for mission replays to achieve a 100% score.
- Base Jumping: Players can find parachutes on top of various tall buildings and landmarks throughout Liberty City and engage in base jumping activities.
- Club Management: As Luis, players can manage Tony's clubs, Maisonette 9 and Hercules. This involves working as a bouncer, managing VIPs, and dancing.
- Underground Fight Tournament: An underground bare-knuckle fighting club becomes accessible, where players can compete for cash prizes.
- Drug Wars: A series of side missions where Luis helps his friends Armando and Henrique by stealing drug vehicles and defending stashes from rival gangs.
- Triathlon: A multi-stage race involving boating, parachuting, and street racing.
Properties
- Maisonette 9: One of two high-end nightclubs owned by Tony Prince, located in Algonquin.
- Hercules: The second of Tony's nightclubs, also located in Algonquin.
- Luis's Apartment: The main safehouse for the protagonist, located in Northwood, Algonquin.
Missions / Jobs / Activities
The expansion features a new main storyline consisting of 26 missions that intertwine with the narratives of Niko Bellic and Johnny Klebitz. A notable crossover is the "Museum Piece" mission, which is depicted from the perspectives of all three protagonists across their respective games. In addition to the story, the game adds repeatable side activities such as the Drug Wars and Club Management duties.
Vehicles
Several new vehicles were added, reflecting the high-end theme of the expansion. Notable additions include:
- Buzzard: An experimental military-grade attack helicopter.
- APC: An armored personnel carrier used by the NOOSE.
- A purchasable gold-plated helicopter.
- A subway carriage that can be stolen for a mission.
Weapons
A new arsenal of weapons was introduced, including advanced assault rifles, shotguns, and sticky bombs.
Collectibles
The main set of new collectibles involves finding and shooting 50 seagulls scattered throughout Liberty City
New Characters / Contacts
The expansion introduces a new cast of characters central to Liberty City's nightlife and criminal underworld:
- Luis Fernando Lopez: The controllable protagonist, a bodyguard and business associate of Tony Prince.
- Anthony "Gay Tony" Prince: A legendary but troubled nightclub owner.
- Yusuf Amir: An eccentric and immensely wealthy real estate developer from Dubai who provides Luis with missions.
- Ray Bulgarin: A powerful Russian crime boss and a primary antagonist.
- Rocco Pelosi: A high-ranking mobster from the Ancelotti Crime Family to whom Tony is in debt.
- Mori Kibbutz: An egotistical loan shark and Brucie Kibbutz's older brother.
- Armando Torres & Henrique Bardas: Luis's childhood friends and partners in the Drug Wars side missions.
Gameplay Changes
A major change in The Ballad of Gay Tony is its visual presentation. Compared to the muted, gritty color palette of Grand Theft Auto IV and The Lost and Damned, this expansion features a much brighter and more vibrant look. The graphics incorporate clear blue skies, bright neon pink sunsets, and a more colorful sky at various times of day. The player's HUD and the game's overall color scheme heavily feature shades of pink, purple, and other neon colors to reflect the glamorous and excessive theme of the nightlife scene.
