I WAS GAMED

Charges ‘Grand Theft’ of ‘love’ & $500M

LOVE IS no game.

Repeated proclamations of platonic devotion between two gamers while they built the multibillion-dollar Grand Theft Auto franchise have been introduced in a high-stakes lawsuit over royalties.

Former Grand Theft Auto producer Leslie Benzies alleges in his lawsuit that Rockstar Games co-founder Sam Houser (near right) manipulated him, earned his “complete trust” — then screwed Benzies (far right) out of as much as $500 million. That alleged manipulation involved emails between the two — missives that Benzies’ attorney says show that they were close friends.

Benzies says he spearheaded the creative side of the game, while Houser handled the business side.

“Do you still love me? More than ever? . . . That’s exactly how I feel — such a f---ing strong connection. I’m nervous and excited about what is ahead of us. Together — we CAN do this. But — I REALLY need you. So much to discuss,” Houser wrote Benzies in December 2004, as Grand Theft Auto became one of the most successful video game brands ever.

The following month, Houser asked Benzies: “Do you still love me? Can we take over? Dominate? Sorry — I’m needy.”

Benzies replied, “You know I still love you. We are getting closer to the domination every day.”

To which Houser said, “I’ll never take the ‘love’ for granted. You and me is a special thing; this combination can go literally anywhere. I want us to have this industry and lock-down in this next generation, and between the two of us, I firmly believe this is possible.”

The suit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, alleges that Houser “incessantly” used phrases like “I will ALWAYS look out for you.”

Benzies’ attorneys argue that the emails indicate a business arrangement had been made between him and Houser in which they were entitled to the same amount of money.

But Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Barry Ostrager questioned whether the emails represented an agreement separate from contracts Benzies subsequently signed with Rockstar.

“You’re telling me the parties are pledging their undying love for each other and then memorialized their agreements in contracts?” Ostrager asked during a hearing Tuesday.

Benzies’ lawyer Christopher Bakes said the intense bond between the two was similar to that of friends in the Marines.

“There’s a certain style of speech in gaming — they don’t speak to each other like you and I do,” he said, adding that the emails showed an “esprit de corps” that can emerge when the stakes are high.

“There’s a certain intensity associated with certain instances of male bonding,” he added.

Benzies says he was ousted from Rockstar after the release of Grand Theft Auto V in 2014 because of Houser’s greed. Rockstar countered that the game was released in spite of Benzies.

“Benzies’ poor performance during the development of Grand Theft Auto V led to significant production problems,” Rockstar argued.