GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Take-Two sells off Joytech

Mad Catz buys up the peripherals maker, promises no redundancies for US or UK staff.

36 Comments

Take-Two Interactive has announced that it has sold off Joytech, its video games accessory subsidiary, to Mad Catz Interactive. The Grand Theft Auto publisher, which owns Rockstar, 2K, 2K Sports, and Global Star Software, has previously stated that it wants to divest itself of all non-core businesses.

Ben Feder, Take-Two's chief executive officer, said in a statement, "We are particularly pleased that we accomplished this goal in a manner that will allow substantially all of our Joytech employees in the US and UK to join Mad Catz, which is a highly respected provider of video game peripherals."

Take-Two's shares were recently boosted by sales of well-received PC and Xbox 360 shooter BioShock, but the company is still forecasting a loss for its fourth fiscal quarter. According to the company, the Joytech sale is "not expected to be material to Take-Two's financial results."

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 36 comments about this story
36 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for Gen_Payne
Gen_Payne

31

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Upvote • 
Avatar image for playstation_wii
playstation_wii

5271

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Mad Catz will just make more worse periphials

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Nintendo_Ownes7
Nintendo_Ownes7

30973

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

Why are you complaining about Madcats I don't think they are that bad and my parents always had to buy them for my sister since they are very cheap you don't have to worring about her throwing them like she used to when she got mad playing videogames.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for sectorzero
sectorzero

119

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Who cares? Mad Catz makes bad controllers, no offense to anyone who reads this.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for solidgamer
solidgamer

7542

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

offical FTW

Upvote • 
Avatar image for DiamondFang
DiamondFang

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I think that the Mad Catz controllers have bad design concept, they look very un-sexy and fat. I think that if they could just make them slimer and keep the price tag. I think they could be a strong competitor

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Pete5506
Pete5506

10112

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 39

User Lists: 0

Never liked any of them

Upvote • 
Avatar image for peeweeshift
peeweeshift

3909

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 20

User Lists: 0

mad catz controllers have horrible buttons sometimes but they are still some of the best quality and price in comparison to logi

Upvote • 
Avatar image for SteveTwo
SteveTwo

838

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

MadCatz released a clear flexible vinyl cover for my original DS that was one of the best things I've purchased for it. Other than that, there actual controller accessories I wouldn't use. I'd rather spend the extra money for a high-quality controller. The little gaming items and accessories that aren't controllers seem to be okay though.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for minime78362
minime78362

292

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 14

User Lists: 0

Mad Catz might be the worst thing to happen to gaming peripherals. All their controllers suck. And I don't even feel like buying their other crappy products to see how they work.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for munsoned
munsoned

3064

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

i remember i had something joytech. i cant remember what it was but i do remember it didnt last to long be4 i returned it and got my money back

Upvote • 
Avatar image for nintendorocks
nintendorocks

5996

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 16

User Lists: 0

Joytech wasn't that great of an investment anyway. I'm sure Mad Catz could do much more with them. Good move by Take-Two.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for rockstar_88
rockstar_88

1253

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 0

Everyone that hs owned video games has bought a MadCatz product, so you all know the pain I've felt.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Rephin
Rephin

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Joytech makes some pretty decent stuff at a reasonable price. I own their HDMI switcher and their slim PS2 monitor for in-the-car gaming, and neither have let me down so far. Mad Catz, on the other hand, has let me down so much since the original PlayStation era that I'm surprised that they still make enough profit to actually buy another company. Go figure.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for SoulKillah
SoulKillah

2171

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

i don't like joytech or madcatz...i rather stick to good old Logitech:D

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Rickettsz0780
Rickettsz0780

152

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

controllers from xbox always work better for the xbox than controllers from mad catz on the xbox, i think im going to stick with brand on brand. Little more expensive but worth it

Upvote • 
Avatar image for comthitnuong
comthitnuong

10093

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

I don't like what Madcatz does with their controllers. I'd rather some other maker buy them.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for lukey9493
lukey9493

393

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

mad catz make decent quality stuff but never top of the line but joytech is just lame

Upvote • 
Avatar image for _RA0_
_RA0_

855

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

never really liked Joytech and Mad Catz

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Wayward_Son_88
Wayward_Son_88

102

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I don't know about anyone else, but I don't know anyone who has bought a third party peripheral. I just don't see it as a business that makes all that much money, and I think this is a smart move on Take-Twos part.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Bunnyslippers
Bunnyslippers

2171

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Joytech makes one of the best peripherals. While the Mad Cats aren't of same high quality, but of course much cheaper.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Rangel_19
Rangel_19

37

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

Well, hopefully this sale of JoyTech can help bolster Take-Two's finances so that they can focus on making Grand Theft Auto IV! Also, Mad Catz does make some good peripherals, I just hope that they won't jack up their prices now since one of their competitors has been assimilated or has been taken out of the market!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for GohanSSJZ
GohanSSJZ

147

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

I actually own a PS1 steering wheel from Mad Catz that i've used a lot and is still in perfect condition, and it wasn't that expensive either. Ofcourse i also had a Mad Catz controller which i returned and bought another Sony Dual Shock controller instead. Mad Catz does make quality products, it's just that the majority is crap.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Zoomer30
Zoomer30

4365

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

"wants to divest itself from non core businesses" is corp speek for "we are bleeding money out of every pore and we wont have a good game out for at least 8-9 months, time to head for the doors and you better have your (ahem) golden parachute"

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Hawk456
Hawk456

310

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 0

I've never known Mad Catz to make a quality product... to my knowledge, the controllers have always been sub par. And like many have said, usually bought by unknowing parents or people trying to save a few bucks.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for DonutTrooper
DonutTrooper

1088

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 0

A subsidery going from a well-recieved and widely liked company is being sold to support it, while it goes to a company that makes infamously bad products. Only thing I trust that they make is the battery charger cooling fan base for the 360. Otherwise it's Logitech FTW.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for CMakaCreative
CMakaCreative

2107

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

I'm surprise Mad Catz are even in a postion to buy another company. I think Logitek has the best third party accessories, though they can be a bit pricey. We'll here's to avoiding something esle Mad Catz is a part of.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for StonyShred420
StonyShred420

192

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

It just makes you wonder how after all these years, Mad Catz is still in business. Like most people have said, they really do make some garbage products. Of coarse when i was a kid my parents made a few mistakes buying controllers made by them (may have been under an older name of thier s too) and even at the age og 12, i could tell that thier controllers were crap, so i used to make my friends use that controllers! lol But to Mad Catz credit, i think the only thing i ever bought of thiers was a cheap 10 buck Mic to replace one i broke for my original Xbox, and it worked fine for a while, till i got the halo 2 Edition Mic. You'd think, idk...maybe Mad Catz would make a line of better made products foew a few bucks more exspensive, give the people some options...because the fact most 3rd party accessories are, most people stick to the stuff made by either Nintendo, Microsoft or Sony.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ghsacidman
ghsacidman

792

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 69

User Lists: 0

Mad Catz a highly respectedprovider of video game peripherals? He could of made it alittle less obvious he was lying. MAD CATZ SUCKS. They intentionally market products that don't work to people who don't know better. Anyone who has tried their steering wheel will agree, MAD CATZ SUCKS! The kid that said it wasn't rubbish... is out of his damn mind.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Metallicantera
Metallicantera

138

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

who buys a expensive system just to buy mad catz cheap **** accessories? i got one of their old xbox controllers for Christmas a few years ago and almost threw it back in my brothers face.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for -Squirrel-
-Squirrel-

494

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Well I think we all can agree that Mad Catz is terrible, but I never really bought Joytech. This does mean more stuff made by Mad Catz tho and thats just unacceptable. Just buy first party goods if you can get the cash, even if they're used. And while this is "not expected to be material to Take-Two's financial results," I still think this is partially a move to make Take-Two look more hopeful to its stock holders that were disenfranchised after the delay of Manhunt 2 and GTA4.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for pigfish2
pigfish2

3819

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 69

User Lists: 0

i have a mad catz sreering wheel, it's not rubbish but it's nothing special

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Sanguis_Malus
Sanguis_Malus

1322

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Joytech stuff =good Madcatz stuff = mad crap !!!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for AnFangs_Endes
AnFangs_Endes

3785

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

"to join Mad Catz, which is a highly respected provider of video game peripherals." Highly respected for making cheap peripheral's? wtf..

Upvote • 
Avatar image for majin_vegeta300
majin_vegeta300

271

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Mad Catz sucks, period.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bengino
bengino

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 15

User Lists: 0

Mad Cats? The company can hardly make accessories worth it in the first place, bad move by Take Two... now the gamers have even less choices outside of the official peripherals

Upvote •