Take Two got $50M for GTAIV episodic content

by Kyle Orland { Jun 18th 2007 at 4:20PM }

A telling exchange during last week's Take Two earnings conference call may have revealed a sizable price tag for the Xbox 360's exclusive rights to Grand Theft Auto IV downloadable content. During the call, Pacific Crest Securities Analyst Evan Wilson inquired about a $25 million "deferred revenue chunk associated with the episodic content on Xbox 360." Take Two CFO Lainie Goldstein responded that the money was for "the first episodic content package that's supposed to go out ... in March of '08" and that another $25 million was being deferred for the second content pack, to be released later in fiscal '08.

Many news outlets are reporting that this revenue came from Microsoft to secure exclusive rights to these content packs, but this is not explicitly confirmed in the conference call or any other sources we could find. Take Two spokesperson Meg Maise would not comment on the matter, telling Joystiq the financial arrangements for the downloadable content were confidential.

Still, it seems highly likely that the money came from Microsoft. Deferred revenue is often used to account for money paid before a product is delivered, and Take Two deferring Microsoft's payment for downloadable content would be a prototypical example of the practice. It's hard to imagine where else Take Two would derive such sizable revenue before the product was released.

So was this a good move for Microsoft? Downloadable content is definitely a selling points for the Xbox 360 version of the game, but $50 million is a lot of money to pay just to get some additional content. If you're prepared to throw your money around, why not go all the way and secure the entire franchise as a system exclusive?

[Via NeoGAF]

Tags: content, DLC, downloadable, grand theft auto, GrandTheftAuto, GTA, GTA4, GTAIV, Microsoft, Take Two, TakeTwo, Xbox 360, Xbox360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

konajinx @ Jun 18th 2007 4:24PM

Cue the Sony Defense Force and their stale usage of "M$" and conspiracy theories that Microsoft pays off other companies to make bad PS3 ports, etc.

C'mon...don't disappoint me here.

Dud @ Jun 18th 2007 4:25PM

I am going to guess this content is going to be absolutely huge. Along the lines of an entire expansion pack for each episode.

kevin @ Jun 18th 2007 4:25PM

$50 million...was that necessary?

JJ @ Jun 18th 2007 4:31PM

it'd better be huge for that amount of coin, but if its not coming out till march, almost 6 months after release, i dont think it'll make TOO big of a difference in terms of which system one picks it up for.

i mean right now i could go either way on either the PS3 or the 360, but depending on what exactly the content is, or how much it costs, it could make me lean one way or the other.

But as of right now, i'll just buy it for whatever system i bought less games for for that month.

Teflon @ Jun 18th 2007 4:31PM

Just imagine how many Mircosoft points its going to cost to download.

Probot @ Jun 18th 2007 4:32PM

That's a lot, but I'm sure it'll be worth it in the long run. Not only does it help boost the sales for MS, it also hurts the sales for Sony. It's a win-win. Unless you're Sony.

However, I did hear that Sony paid close to $300 million to keep FFXIII exclusive. That's a lot more, but at least they get the full game, rather than just the bonus content that most people won't buy.

zwarrior @ Jun 18th 2007 4:32PM

Nice to know how MS put their money to use, hopefully Rockstar will use that more wisely now.

vidGuy @ Jun 18th 2007 4:36PM

Very, very smart move, provided that MS advertises the fact to users who are going to choose between the 360 and PS3 version.

Between exclusive GTA4 content and Halo 3 on the 360, and Metroid Prime 3, Super Mario Galaxy, and Super Smash Brothers Brawl on the Wii, the PS3 is going to be sucking for breath even through the normally-profitable holidays.

sheppy @ Jun 18th 2007 4:39PM

"C'mon...don't disappoint me here."

I think what's disappointing is even before the fantards show up, there's people egging em on. Seriously, everything you listed, I never saw posted once. And that's including from Matt B.

Mr Khan @ Jun 18th 2007 4:40PM

Microsoft has also paid a further $100 million to make sure the PS3 version of GTAIV sucks

-you're welcome konajinx

but in all seriousness; this had to be the reason, either cash or stupidity, considering the fact that all PS3 owners are capable of downloading said content, which can't be said for the few 360 owners that bought the core and never got around to getting an HDD

james.bonkowski @ Jun 18th 2007 4:42PM

"If you're prepared to throw your money around, why not go all the way and secure the entire franchise as a system exclusive?"
Microsoft and Sony bidding for GTA exclusively could have gone in the billions. 50 million for a selling point is good enough.

MONGO @ Jun 18th 2007 4:46PM

I’m not jealous, because when I was going through my 2 shoddily built Xbox 360 systems (yes two), I never bought into the whole ghey-ass microtranaction bs that M$ tries to shove down everyone’s throat.

Now I have a PS3….and I could still care less what those pricks at M$ are trying to shove down people’s throats. Here’s an idea………..make a full game for a change. Just a thought.

nick @ Jun 18th 2007 4:46PM

Smart move by Microsoft for securing exclusive content.

Konny @ Jun 18th 2007 4:46PM

$50 million.. thats more than the development budget of most AAA games... and for add on content. And, they wont even be able to sell it at full price, and the use base is smaller (you need an HDD).

I have never heard of add-on content (with several months delay) selling a system. Now, if it came with the game from the start, then it may make a difference. For example, Street Fighter 2 on Genesis and Super Street Fighter 2 on SNES.

mccomber @ Jun 18th 2007 4:47PM

Huh. And to think, how many xboxers were saying it was due to technical limitations or the install base on the PS3 when the exclusive announcement was made? How even if they paid, that couldn't be the sole reason? Turns out... yeah, MS paid for it. And how. That's a ton of money to not even get the full game as an exclusive. Wonder what that would have cost...
But, I will admit, this is a smart move by MS, since it's basically a loan users will help (partially) pay back when they buy this content from them. Now if they're smart they'll advertise the hell out of this fact. Hopefully it moves a few systems for them as well.

whosmav @ Jun 18th 2007 4:47PM

Another nail in the ps3 coffin

machrc @ Jun 18th 2007 4:51PM

@5

serious.

CakeOrDeath @ Jun 18th 2007 4:51PM

The $50 million is supposedly an upfront payment for the money MS expect to make from their cut of sales on marketplace.

So MS hasn't really lost anything

konajinx @ Jun 18th 2007 4:53PM

Sheppy,

So be it, but it damn sure happens beyond the breaking point on the official PS3 forums. I swear, every person who ever rode the short bus posts over there.

Grindstone @ Jun 18th 2007 4:53PM

LOL! That was pretty funny, Mr. Khan.

$50 million for exclusive content on a game that we're not even sure is worth it at this point. Yeah, it's a GTA game, but still, you never know. I personally don't care for the GTA games, if $50 million is what it cost for exclusive content, then I suppose Msoft got a bargain.

BPM @ Jun 18th 2007 4:54PM

Chump change for Microsoft, huh?

IslandLife @ Jun 18th 2007 4:55PM

@whosmav

Well that also could be another nail in Microsoft's coffin, but it seems as though theirs is made of cardboard and, oh yeah, they recently ran out of 'em.

ill trooper @ Jun 18th 2007 4:56PM

DANG, money talks!

Matt B @ Jun 18th 2007 4:57PM

Sheppy,
I can't tell if that is an insult or not. Regardless, I respect your level headed posts.
I don't post FUD. I don't make up stuff about the PS3 that isn't true.

As for the this 360 DLC for GTA. I do wish it was on the PS3, heck who wouldn't. I may even get a 360 sometime when a couple titles drop that I'm interested and also a price drop.

AKM @ Jun 18th 2007 5:01PM

Well, they assumed MS paid for episodic content. Maybe MS just want to prevent Take Two drop 360 version at all, due to technical limitation?

CakeOrDeath @ Jun 18th 2007 5:02PM

Next-Gen contacted Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter, who further explained the deal. "What Microsoft did was pay a $50 million advance," he said, much in the same way a big-name author receives a payment in advance of his or her next book.

In other words, he said, the $50 million is not a fee that Microsoft paid Take-Two solely to secure the rights for the content. Rather, Microsoft is confident that Take-Two's portion of the revenue generated by GTA IV content downloads will surpass the $50 million advance paid.

"Microsoft basically said that it's happy to pay [Take-Two] in advance $50 million in revenue that [Take-Two] is going to receive from GTA IV downloads," he said.

Microsoft takes about a 30 percent cut from Xbox Live Marketplace content sales, according to Pachter.

Taking that 70/30 split (publisher/Microsoft) and the $50 million advance into account, Microsoft is apparently confident that GTA IV download revenues over Xbox Live will be at least $70 million.

If revenues don't meet that figure, Take-Two will have to return some of the advance, according to Pachter. But he said that there's no reason to believe Take-Two would actually miss that revenue target.

He also stated, "By giving this advance, Microsoft did extract from Take-Two the promise to make [GTA IV content] exclusive. But there will not be any downloadable content for PS3, at least for some time. My guess is at least for a year."

THA1icarus @ Jun 18th 2007 5:04PM

Bling Bling, money aint a thing

PhrawzT @ Jun 18th 2007 5:06PM

I seem to recall that GTA4 was originally going to be an Xbox exclusive, until Sony paid Take Two a considerable amount just to get it made for the PS3.

Justin @ Jun 18th 2007 5:08PM

I never finished any GTA games anyways. I would always start a mission and then end up just killing cops or raping hookers or something. Take Two has already said the game main game is massive, why would I want to spend even more money on it just to get more of the same? I dont think 50 million is a very good buy for Microsoft. Oh well though, its not like they dont have the money.

bearattack79 @ Jun 18th 2007 5:08PM

Microsoft is just fucking with Sony now.

And the bidding starts for Metal Gear...

Vidikron @ Jun 18th 2007 5:13PM

Post 26 explains it nicely. MS, in the end, is only out the amount of interest they would have gained by having that money sitting in their own bank account. And in exchange for that they get a period of exclusivity (possibly forever) for the content. VERY smart move by MS.

bl13 @ Jun 18th 2007 5:15PM

If they price the episodes at, say, $20 each, then they need 3.5 million downloads to reach the $70 million mark. I also wonder how big they can make it to both justify the pricing and fit within XBL limits.

mccomber @ Jun 18th 2007 5:17PM

"I seem to recall that GTA4 was originally going to be an Xbox exclusive, until Sony paid Take Two a considerable amount just to get it made for the PS3."

And I seem to recall that Sony purchased the rights to use glossy black plastic in building video game consoles, and that's why MS had to make the elite matte black.

See how easy it is to make stuff up?

CW @ Jun 18th 2007 5:18PM

@26 - Thanks for the post.

So what this really means for Take Two is that Microsoft is "paying" them the equivalent of whatever interest they would have had to pay in order to finance the $50million.
For example, %6 for 9 months is around $2.25million.

Still not a bad deal for Take Two...

Vidikron @ Jun 18th 2007 5:19PM

@32

I'm pretty sure any limits they may have would be waived for a game like GTAIV.

Dud @ Jun 18th 2007 5:19PM

If they have 50m to throw around for this, it isn't much of a stretch to see FFXIII, and MGS to become pretty much 360 exclusive for some bling.

Makes you wonder why they just dont start buying these companies.

Snukadaman @ Jun 18th 2007 5:20PM

50 million is alot ...maybe this wakes sony up on trying too save their exclusives....on another note...i have been too that official ps3 forum...aint seen more denial in my life since the last time my brother in law got caught cheating in bed with another woman

bl13 @ Jun 18th 2007 5:21PM

^^

Probably. Also are there any download numbers for the Oblivion expansion pack? That was $20 wasn't it?

whosmav @ Jun 18th 2007 5:22PM

The big question is What exactly are these 'episodes'?

Extras, more missions, whole new story?
If they're very fleshed out it would be a big deal.

Otis Whitaker @ Jun 18th 2007 5:30PM

This is a very dumb move no matter what anyone says.
The only people who are going to care, are XBOX Fanboys.
Everyone else is too stupid to know a difference, and will probably get the game on 360 anyways… Seeing as it’s the cheapest option. I have high doubts that any sort of DLC is going to sell all that great to anyone. Most people are still of the mindset that they're hesitant to spend a whole lot on anything digital.

I doubt the individual DLC sales will surpass 500,000. MAYBE one million if they're insanely lucky. But that's doubtful. Highly doubtfull. Even so, for that investment, it was a really stupid waste of capital, and further proof that, with most business decisions, game wise, MS doesn't know what the hell they're doing.

Vidikron @ Jun 18th 2007 5:37PM

@40

You're clueless. Please read post #26. Also, you're estimates are clearly way off. 500K? WTF? I'm pretty sure MS has data from other DLC that makes them think the 50 million is warranted. If they don't make that number, T2 gives some of the money back. It's not a dumb in any way shape or form for MS.

Vidikron @ Jun 18th 2007 5:38PM

^^
That should say "your estimates", not "you're". I started to say something else.

raiknii @ Jun 18th 2007 5:40PM

They aren't paying for the game to be exclusive because the casual GTA fans will buy the 360 version due to the PS3's price tag and the hardcore fans will buy the 360 version for the content. Leaving... um.... truly, truly hardcore people who buy both versions.

The people that buy GTA on the PS3 will likely already have a PS3, so Microsoft isn't going to spend even more cash for the small royalty fee. Remember, MSoft is in this mainly to make sure that if consoles become the next computer, they have a share.

jabbertrack @ Jun 18th 2007 5:44PM

I'm curious who is actually reporting that $50 million is a lot of money for this. I mean anyone besides people that know absolutely nothing about producing episodic content for GTAIV on 360.

Because the intarwebs are speculating and such... but we can speculate all we want about someone else's business but that's all it is...

Digi Smalls @ Jun 18th 2007 5:45PM

it's an advance, not a payment. Joystiq should change the headline and add the word "advance".

shrewd move for a company that needs the money right now (T2)

.

Phranctoast @ Jun 18th 2007 5:47PM

thats more then they spent on gears development.

its kind of dumb. If 4 million people buy the extra content for $5, they still dont come close to making their money back.

Jake @ Jun 18th 2007 5:51PM

Otis, you should read post #26. Basically, MS is paying in advance the money Take Two would make by selling the content. If the content doesn't sell to its goal, Take Two has to refund "some" of the money. If it exceeds the goal, I would assume MS would have to give them "some" more money.

This is a deal for Take Two, but not as big of one as you would think. They will make a few million off of the interest, and likely have a lower risk entrance into the episodic content arena and more guaranteed money. It isn't like MS just flat gave them $50 million to keep it away from PS3. They gave them what will end up to be 5 or so million to keep it off of PS3.

This probably isn't a big deal to Take Two as they probably didn't expect to sell a whole lot of dlc on PS3. It is a good deal for both parties, at the expense of Sony.

They need to sell $70 million for it to mostly break even. There are two episodes. Let's assume 75% of the people that buy the first one end up buying the second. They would need to sell $40 million worth of the first set. If the content is $20, like Oblivion, they need 2 million buyers. If it is $10 they need 4 million. I think the sweet spot will be $15.

Gears sold about 4 million copies. I don't think it is insane to think that GTAIV could sell 5-8 million copies, with 2-4 million people buying the episodes. But, that definately seems optimistic.

And if the content reaches or exceeds $70 million in sales, MS will still come ahead on the content alone, not to mention the fact that they got a strategic edge over they competitor in the process.

Pretty smart move by MS. Probably smarter move by Take Two. Sony, well, at least they get to keep any money they would have had to spend to get this thing on their platform.

Jake @ Jun 18th 2007 5:59PM

digi makes a great point. Take Two needs cash NOW. This advance payment will really help them out. And we don't know how the contract is set up. It could be such that if sales exceed a certain goal, MS makes more than they would have if they'd have just taken the flat %30 cut and let it go to PS3 as well.

T2 gets cash now when they need it, because lord knows probably won't need it after GTA drops, at least for a while.

MS secures a slight edge over their competitor in a highly anticipated game towards the more hardcore GTA fans. It also basically ensures multi-console owners will pick up the 360 version of the game instead of the PS3 version. Before perhaps some would get the PS3 version for tilt. I doubt they will now. It could also be the deciding factor for hardcore GTA fans that haven't bought a next gen console yet in making their decision easier.

Sony gets to keep their money and, if episodic content doesn't really decide who buys which game version or which system, isn't out anything. And really, Sony is a company a bit short on straight cash right now and would have frowned at the idea of dealing it out for something like this anyways.