Heaven 17 Songwriter Slams Rockstar for “Iniquitous” GTA 6 Royalties Offer

Heaven 17 band member and co-songwriter, Martyn Ware, has made headlines by firmly rejecting an offer from Rockstar to include their 1983 hit song, “Temptation,” in Grand Theft Auto 6 for a mere $7500, approximately £5700. Ware expressed his strong disapproval of the offer in a candid post on Twitter, where he pointed out that the previous installment, GTA 5, had raked in a staggering $8.6 billion.

In his tweet, Ware shared his disbelief at the meager offer of $7500 for a complete buyout of any future royalties from the game. He emphasized the vast difference in earnings between the game and the proposed fee, ending his post with a blunt “Go fuck yourself.”

When faced with criticism for turning down what some saw as a lucrative opportunity, Ware stood his ground, citing his extensive experience in advocating for artist rights. He explained that the offer was unfair and outlined the financial implications for artists in such deals.

In response to questions about what he would have deemed a reasonable offer, Ware suggested $75,000 for a buyout or a fair royalty without an advance payment. However, he revealed that Rockstar had rejected these terms.

Despite facing backlash for his stance, Ware remained steadfast in his decision, highlighting the importance of fair compensation for artists. The incident has sparked a debate about the value of music in video games and the need for equitable deals between artists and developers.

While Take-Two, Rockstar’s parent company, is confident in meeting the 2025 release window for GTA 6, the controversy surrounding the use of “Temptation” in the game has brought attention to the often overlooked issue of fair compensation for artists in the gaming industry.