Microsoft Shells Out $50M for GTA Content

By Nick Mokey Published June 18, 2007

Microsoft Shells Out $50M for GTA Content

If you were under the impression that Rockstar’s upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV would get the same content on every platform, as it has in ever past iteration, think again. Microsoft has secured exclusive content for GTA IV on the Xbox 360 by making the game’s publisher an offer they couldn’t refuse: $50 million for two downloadable episodes.

Texyt reports that Take-Two CEO Lainie Goldstein let the news slip in a conference call with analysts. According to Goldstein, the downloadable episodes will be offered through Xbox Live Marketplace. The first episode will appear in March 2008 (five months after the game’s October 16 launch), and the second will follow about a year later.

Further reporting by Next-Gen revealed the financial details of the arrangement. Microsoft will keep 30 percent of the profits from the new episodes for use of its Live Marketplace. Take-Two will keep the remaining 70 percent for their development of the content. Microsoft’s initial $50 million represents an advance payment for Take-Two’s cut of the profits, meaning the company could make more or less depending on sales.

Given the businesslike way this news has surfaced, no details of what the content will actually be have appeared. And although Xbox 360 owners know they’re due to have at least $50 million collectively milked out of them, there’s still no word on what each downloadable episode will cost on its own.

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Gaming

Ubisoft confirms Assassin’s Creed remakes are in the works

Basim perched on a ledge overlooking Baghdad

In a company interview with CEO Yves Guillemot posted on the Ubisoft website Thursday, the executive reveals that there are remakes of Assassin's Creed games in the works, although he doesn't specify which ones.

"Players can be excited about some remakes, which will allow us to revisit some of the games we've created in the past and modernize them," he says, implying that it could pertain to games made before Odyssey. "There are worlds in some of our older Assassin's Creed games that are still extremely rich."

Gaming

Surfaced patent shows what an Xbox streaming console would’ve looked like

An Xbox Series X sits next to both Series S models.

There have been a few Xbox devices that have never come to fruition, one of which was Keystone, a prototype for an affordable game streaming device you could hook up to your TV or monitor. Thanks to a surfaced patent, we've gotten an even closer look at what it would've potentially looked like.

The patent, first spotted by Windows Central, gives us a more complete view of the device. We've previously seen the Keystone in the flesh. Microsoft Gaming head Phil Spencer is known for hiding teases and interesting collectibles on the shelf in his office. In a 2022 X (formerly Twitter) post congratulating Bethesda on Fallout's 25th anniversary, you can see a small white device on the top shelf that's actually a Keystone prototype. Xbox told Digital Trends that it was a version of the device made before it decided to "refocus our efforts on a new approach.”

Gaming

Wordle Today: Wordle answer and hints for June 28

Someone playing Wordle on a smartphone.

We have the solution to Wordle on June 28, as well as some helpful hints to help you figure out the answer yourself, right here. We've placed the answer at the bottom of the page, so we don't ruin the surprise before you've had a chance to work through the clues. So let's dive in, starting with a reminder of yesterday's answer.
Yesterday's Wordle answer
Let's start by first reminding ourselves of yesterday's Wordle answer for those new to the game or who don't play it daily, which was "ORDER." So we can say that the Wordle answer today definitely isn't that. Now, with that in mind, perhaps take another stab at it using one of these Wordle starting words and circle back if you have no luck.
Hints for today's Wordle
Still can't figure it out? We have today's Wordle answer right here, below. But first, one more thing: Let's take a look at three hints that could help you find the solution, without giving it away, so there's no need to feel guilty about keeping your streak alive -- you put in some work, after all! Or just keep scrolling for the answer.

Today’s Wordle includes the letter D.
Today’s Wordle uses two vowels.
Today's Wordle can refer to a large number of animals, particularly livestock like cattle or sheep, that are moving together in a group.