GTA 'Hot Coffee' Case Settled for $20 Million

Hot Coffee costed $20 million.

There's no debate that the Grand Theft Auto video game series has always been one surrounded by controversy, but there has been no more questionable time in the franchise's history other than during the "Hot Coffee" incident related to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

In both the PC and PlayStation 2 versions of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was locked content which contained sexually explicit material. While the content was hidden and not a part of the regular game, it could be exposed by modifying several files – something easily done on the PC version. PlayStation 2 version could also have its "Hot Coffee" content unlocked, but it could only be done so using a, unauthorized third party peripheral.

Take-Two Interactive, the publisher of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto series, faced criticism and lawsuits. The entire saga came to a close yesterday as the company reached an agreement in principle to settle a class action for an aggregate payment of $20,115,000.

$15,200,000 of that sum will be paid by the Take-Two Interactive's insurance carriers, and $4,915,000 will be paid by the company itself.

"We are pleased to have reached this settlement, which represents another important step forward for the Company," said Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take-Two.

Now with that out of the way, roll on the Ballad of Gay Tony!

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There are 39 Comments.

Top Comments

26

Aintry , September 3, 2009 5:47 AM

Meanwhile, local roads are falling apart.
12

AdamB5000 , September 3, 2009 6:02 AM

So $19,000,000 goes to the lawyers. Who gets the rest?
13

papasmurf , September 3, 2009 6:03 AM

$19,900,000 of that will be paid to the attorney representing the class action suit. 90,000 will cover the cost of administration and organization to hand the cash out. the remaining 10000 dollars will be split among the 1 million people who took part in the class action lawsuit. Their 10 cent reward will come in the form of a gift card redeemable only online at take two interactive.
13

Sicundercover , September 3, 2009 7:02 AM

I dont get how in any logical world, suing Rockstar for locked content has in any way made the world a better place. Once again this is a example of lawyers chasing a paycheck.

Whats even harder to believe is that we here in the US have allowed lawyers to take over our country. They are in both our legislative branch and our executive branch.

All the time it took for this case to come to fruition could have been used for some better purpose.
12

Jerky_san , September 3, 2009 7:40 AM

You know I noticed a word that kept repeating itself.. "Unauthorized modifications" Sooo I can take a turbo and crank the psi up to 20 and blow the engine sending shards of metal everywhere then sue the car maker because I did something not technically allowed. Or better yet to make this more intune. Can I sue EA because I put nude sims in the sims.

Other Comments

26

Aintry , September 3, 2009 5:47 AM

Meanwhile, local roads are falling apart.
13

Sicundercover , September 3, 2009 7:02 AM

I dont get how in any logical world, suing Rockstar for locked content has in any way made the world a better place. Once again this is a example of lawyers chasing a paycheck.

Whats even harder to believe is that we here in the US have allowed lawyers to take over our country. They are in both our legislative branch and our executive branch.

All the time it took for this case to come to fruition could have been used for some better purpose.
13

papasmurf , September 3, 2009 6:03 AM

$19,900,000 of that will be paid to the attorney representing the class action suit. 90,000 will cover the cost of administration and organization to hand the cash out. the remaining 10000 dollars will be split among the 1 million people who took part in the class action lawsuit. Their 10 cent reward will come in the form of a gift card redeemable only online at take two interactive.

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