Grand Theft Auto VI is probably going probably the most anticipated video games in historical past, with thousands and thousands of gamers around the globe ready for any scrap of information or screenshot of the upcoming open-world crime simulator. Nonetheless, as distant employees wrestle with an undesirable return-to-office mandate from Rockstar Video games, Kotaku has realized from sources with information of the sport’s growth course of that GTA 6 may miss its 2025 launch window and slip into 2026.
Formally unveiled in December 2023 (after a large 2022 leak) GTA 6 is the hotly anticipated follow-up to 2013’s GTA V. Over a decade after that sport’s launch—and its huge, still-growing gross sales numbers—Rockstar Video games is difficult at work on the sequel, which is ready in Vice Metropolis, a fictional tackle Miami, Florida. The sport is ready to come back to PS5 and Xbox Collection someday in 2025, and internally that’s nonetheless the plan. Kotaku was informed by sources with information of the state of affairs that “early 2025” is at the moment the purpose.
Nonetheless, Kotaku has additionally realized that it’s changing into an increasing number of probably that the sequel may not land till late 2025. It’s additionally attainable that it may even slip into 2026 as manufacturing reportedly falls behind.
In February, following quite a few leaks, Bloomberg reported that Rockstar Video games was mandating its workers to return to work 5 days every week within the workplace starting in April. The brief discover and drastic change caught many abruptly and has led to frustration from workers who really feel like they’re being pushed out after being employed remotely, as reported by Aftermath on March 19.
Whereas safety and high quality are reportedly the primary causes Rockstar is instituting the mandate to return to the workplace, I used to be informed by sources—who want to stay nameless to keep away from attainable retaliation—that growth on GTA 6 has began “falling behind.” I’m informed this has management at Rockstar nervous and fearful in regards to the sport lacking the 2025 window and slipping into 2026, and is one other large cause the corporate is pushing for a return to the workplace in April.
For the time being, I’m informed that Rockstar continues to be “aiming” for GTA 6 to reach in Spring 2025. Whereas an early 2025 launch is the purpose, sources say they aren’t certain if it will occur and a Fall 2025 launch appears extra believable and possible. In the meantime, delaying the sport to 2026 is on the desk as a kind of “fallback plan” or “emergency” possibility if wanted.
And naturally, it must be famous—and I used to be reminded when speaking to people about this example—that Rockstar Video games traditionally waits till the “final minute” to make modifications or alter plans, so the subsequent trailer for the sport—no phrase on when to anticipate that—may not mirror a delay as the corporate pushes ahead on growth.
Kotaku has contacted Rockstar Video games
Talking to Aftermath, one worker shared issues that after enhancing over the previous couple of years, Rockstar Video games may slide again into dev crunch as GTA VI enters the ultimate a part of its lengthy growth.
“We’re involved about going again to that,” stated one Rockstar worker to Aftermath.
“I’ve been by a few tasks, each of which had crunch. The primary one was extraordinarily troublesome. I had method much less grey hair again then. … We wish to proceed the strides we’ve made as an organization to take away that poisonous tradition.”
Even when the sport is internally pushed again till late 2025 or is publicly delayed till 2026, that doesn’t imply employees—who’re being pressured to return to the workplace in opposition to their needs—gained’t must crunch. In truth, typically delays simply imply extra crunch. Regardless, it’s clear that GTA 6’s ultimate yr or so of growth gained’t be straightforward or fast as the corporate goals for early 2025.
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