British synth-pop band Heaven 17’s hit Temptation was set to be part of the soundtrack for Rockstar Games’ open-world crime thriller Grand Theft Auto VI, but the parties were unable to agree on terms.
Image source: Steam
Heaven 17 co-founder and keyboardist Martin Ware said on his microblog the other day that the creators of GTA VI were interested in using Temptation (see the video for the song below) and were willing to pay for it.
«Of course, I was delighted at the thought of the cash flow heading my way, and then scrolled down the letter to the offer… $7,500 [for each of the three authors]. One-time payment with no royalties from the game – forever,” Ware said.
The musician flatly refused Rockstar’s offer, considering it “pathetic” and “completely unacceptable.” Especially against the backdrop of the financial success of GTA V – more than $8.5 billion in total revenue, according to open sources.
Temptation debuted in 1983
Ware’s comments indicated that in addition to $7.5 thousand (anything is better than nothing), Temptation and Heaven 17 would receive additional publicity, but the musician has one answer to such proposals: “Go to hell.”
According to Ware, 1 million plays on streaming services bring creators “a measly thousand dollars.” The musician tried to achieve more favorable conditions (he considers $75 thousand an acceptable amount), but Rockstar did not make concessions.
GTA VI is announced for PS5, Xbox Series X and S. The game is officially scheduled for autumn 2025, but rumors have recently appeared about a postponement to the first half of 2026. The project is one of the most (if not the most) anticipated upcoming releases.