NVIDIA's decision to create a 1070-exclusive feature for GTA 4 was likely intended to showcase the graphics capabilities of their flagship GPU. However, the inclusion of the "Hot Coffee" mod was a baffling move, considering the controversy surrounding similar content in San Andreas just a few years prior.
In 2005, Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was at the center of a media storm surrounding the "Hot Coffee" mini-game, a hidden feature that allowed players to engage in a graphical depiction of sex with the game's protagonist's girlfriend. The controversy led to a re-rating of the game and a re-release with the mini-game removed.
Fast forward to 2008, and a modder had created a similar mini-game for Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA 4), dubbed the "Hot Coffee" mod. This mod, created by a user named "Mr. Face", allowed players to engage in a similar graphical depiction of sex with one of the game's female characters, Michelle.
The feature was short-lived, as Rockstar Games quickly distanced themselves from the mod, stating that it was not an official part of the game. NVIDIA subsequently pulled the feature, citing a misunderstanding with Rockstar Games.
The mod gained significant attention when NVIDIA, in collaboration with Rockstar Games, showcased an exclusive 1070-only feature for GTA 4, essentially an enhanced version of the game that included the "Hot Coffee" mod.
The mod used the game's built-in scripting language to create a new interaction between the player character, Niko Bellic, and Michelle. The mod was relatively simple, using existing game assets and animations to create the illusion of sex.