Take-Two has signed a new long-term Xbox Publisher License Agreement with Microsoft, according to an 8-K filing with the SEC. Signed on September 28 and effective from September 17, it gives Take-Two the right to develop, publish, manufacture, market, advertise, distribute, and sell Xbox-compatible products for "all Xbox devices." It also replaces all of the company's existing Xbox publisher agreements. The filing doesn't mention Project Helix by name, but it's probably covered under the "all devices" wording.
On the commercial side, Microsoft pays Take-Two the wholesale price and/or an agreed revenue share on digital sales, and charges fees and royalties on physical media. Microsoft keeps the right to approve each game concept, the final build, and any packaging or marketing that carries its marks. The full agreement will be attached to Take-Two's 10-Q for the quarter ending September 30.
Interestingly, Take-Two's 2020 deal mentioned the Xbox One and Xbox Series X platforms specifically, while "all Xbox devices" is much broader. It looks like this is meant to cover whatever Xbox ships next, which would fit with Xbox CEO Asha Sharma saying the team is working on a "great family of devices" for Helix. Take-Two doesn't explain the change, and it could also be routine housekeeping. The first Take-Two game under this updated deal is GTA 6, which is still scheduled for November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Source: TechPowerUp News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing