Rockstar GamesBand member and co-songwriter of Heaven 17 Martyn Ware has candidly refused an offer from Rockstar Games to include their 1983 hit, Temptation, in Grand Theft Auto VI.
The rockstar was offered $7,500 (around £5,700) by the game development studio, which also has offices in Edinburgh, to include the song in the GTA V sequel.
Ware’s response to the offer was simple: “Go f**k yourself.”
In a frank explanation posted to X, formally known as Twitter, he did not try to hide his dismay at the offer and pointed out that predecessor GTA V grossed $8.6bn (£6.75bn).
“I was recently contacted by my publishers on behalf of Rockstar Games [regarding] the possibility of using Temptation on the new Grand Theft Auto 6,” Ware wrote on the social media platform.
“Naturally excited about the immense wealth that was about to head my way, I scrolled to the bottom of the email [regarding] the offer…”
“IT WAS $7500 – for a buyout of any future royalties from the game – forever…” he added in a subsequent tweet.
“To put this in context, Grand Theft Auto 6 [Grand Theft Auto 5 – sic] grossed, wait for it… $8.6 BILLION.
“Ah, but think of the exposure…,” Ware added, before ending with: “Go f**k yourself.”
Ware later clarified that this was his cut as one of three co-writers, with the other two writers receiving the same offer, amounting to a total $22,500.
“$7500 each for 3 writers—still utterly unacceptable,” he said.
Commentators on X swiftly started to question such decision, claiming Ware made a mistake by turning down such an opportunity and the long-term benefits coming from a huge exposure title like GTA VI would offer.
The musician was, however, quick to dismiss such suggestions and pointed out how “pitiful” monetary reward such exposure would bring.
“For those claiming H17 should have accepted the extremely low offer for buyout for Temptation in GTA6 claiming ‘increased exposure’… an extra one million streams generates each writer a pitiful $1k each,” he explained.
Asked about what a reasonable offer would be, Ware indicated that “$75K a buyout – or no advance required for a reasonable royalty” would suffice.
That suggestion was seemingly refused by Rockstar Games.
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