Possible delay in GTA 6 as Rockstar pushes employees into the office

Grand Theft Auto VI It's probably one of the most anticipated games in history, with millions of players around the world waiting for any scrap of information or screenshot of the upcoming open-world crime simulator. However, as remote workers struggle with the unwanted return-to-the-office mandate from Rockstar Games, Kotaku I learned from sources familiar with the game development process that GTA 6 It could miss the 2025 release window and slip into 2026.

It will be officially unveiled in December 2023 (after Massive leak 2022) GTA 6 is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2013 GTA V. More than a decade after that game's release – and its massive sales numbers that continue to grow – Rockstar Games is hard at work on the sequel, set in Vice City, a fictional story about Miami, Florida. The game is scheduled to come to PS5 and Xbox Series sometime in 2025, and that's still the plan internally. Kotaku Sources familiar with the situation said that “early 2025” is the current target.

but, Kotaku I've also learned that it's becoming increasingly likely that the sequel won't be released until late 2025. It's also possible that it could slip to 2026 as production is said to be delayed.

Last February, after many leaks. Bloomberg mentioned Rockstar Games was tasking its employees with returning to work five days a week in the office starting in April. The short notice and drastic change surprised many and frustrated employees who feel they were fired after being hired remotely. As I mentioned After the disaster On March 19th.

While security and quality are the main reasons Rockstar instituted a mandate to return to the office, sources — who wish to remain anonymous to avoid potential retaliation — told me that development on GTA 6 He began to “fall behind.” I'm told this has made leadership at Rockstar nervous and concerned about the game missing the 2025 window and sliding into 2026, which is another big reason the company is pushing for a return to the office in April.

For now, I'm told Rockstar is still “aiming” for this GTA 6 To arrive in spring 2025. While the goal is to release in early 2025, sources say they are unsure whether this will happen or not, and a fall 2025 launch seems more reasonable and feasible. Meanwhile, postponing the game until 2026 is on the table as a sort of “backup plan” or “emergency” option if necessary.

And of course, it's worth noting – and I've been reminded when I've talked to people about this situation – that Rockstar Games historically waits until the “last minute” to make changes or change plans, so the game's next trailer – there's no word when to expect it – may not reflect delay as the company moves forward with development.

Kotaku I have contacted Rockstar Games

Talking to After the disasterone employee expressed concerns that after the improvement Rockstar Games has seen over the past few years, they might be able to… It slipped back into a development crisis like GTA VI It is entering the final part of its long development.

“We're worried about going back to that,” one Rockstar employee told Aftermath.

“I've been through a number of projects, and they were both in crisis. The first one was very difficult. I had a lot less gray hair at the time. … We want to continue the strides we've made as a company to remove that toxic culture.

Even if the game is postponed internally until late 2025 or publicly postponed until 2026, that doesn't mean workers — who are forced to return to the office against their will — won't have to break loose. In reality, Sometimes, delay means more crisis. Regardless, it's clear that GTA 6'The last year or so of development won't be easy or quick as the company is aiming for early 2025.

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