As Vice City-set GTA 6, however, it's already run into a few problems.

As reported by VGC, Martyn Ware (via X, formerly Twitter), a founding member of the band Heaven 17, has claimed that Rockstar Games had offered $7,500 for the inclusion of a song, "Temptation," on the GTA 6 soundtrack, and "a buyout of any future royalties from the game" - an offer which Ware, and Heaven 17, then rejected, with Ware comparing the offer to being paid in "exposure."

In later posts, Ware clarified that the $7,500 offer was to all three of the band, bringing it up to $22,500 total, that Rockstar refused further negotiations, and claimed that $75,000 would be a fairer deal.

Pay Dispute Over Music Licensing Could Be A Bad Look For GTA 6

Fans Have Criticized Both Rockstar And Martyn Ware

While the news that Rockstar is looking to fully buy out songs for GTA 6 is good news for fans, as it means that the game can avoid the post-release music removal patches that hit both GTA 4 and GTA 5, it's decidedly less welcome news that the studio is allegedly underpaying artists to do so. While the controversy over Heaven 17's rejection of the offer is unlikely to hurt GTA 6 significantly in the long run, other artists taking a similar stance as Ware could end up narrowing the amount of licensed music that gets included on GTA 6's radio stations at release.

Notably, however, Ware's later posts clarifying the exact amount offered and his hypothetical counter-offer have also drawn a significant amount of criticism, with some GTA fans feeling that his initial claim of $7,500 was essentially a lie by omission, and that his proposed $75,000 offer is too high in light of how much other licensed music will be included in GTA 6. GTA is, of course, one of the most profitable and high-budget franchises in the gaming industry, and could presumably afford to pay more, but any offers made may have to abide by a strict licensing budget as well.

Martyn Ware and Heaven 17, as with any artist offered pay for their work, are of course well within their rights to refuse any offer, but the decision to make the rejection a public affair has sparked some controversy, both for Rockstar Games and Ware himself. Further news on Grand Theft Auto 6 is scant at the moment, but the dispute between Rockstar and Heaven 17 marks something of a bad start for the game's music licensing efforts.

Sources: VGC, Martyn Ware/X (1, 2, 3, 4)