Grand Theft Auto VI is probably going probably the most anticipated video games in historical past, with tens of millions of gamers around the globe ready for any scrap of information or screenshot of the upcoming open-world crime simulator. Nonetheless, as distant staff battle with an undesirable return-to-office mandate from Rockstar Video games, Kotaku has discovered from sources with data of the sport’s improvement 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 recreation’s launch—and its large, still-growing gross sales numbers—Rockstar Video games is difficult at work on the sequel, which is about in Vice Metropolis, a fictional tackle Miami, Florida. The sport is about to return to PS5 and Xbox Collection someday in 2025, and internally that’s nonetheless the plan. Kotaku was instructed by sources with data of the scenario that “early 2025” is presently the objective.
Nonetheless, Kotaku has additionally discovered that it’s changing into increasingly probably that the sequel won’t land till late 2025. It’s additionally potential 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 unexpectedly and has led to frustration from employees 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 principle causes Rockstar is instituting the mandate to return to the workplace, I used to be instructed by sources—who want to stay nameless to keep away from potential retaliation—that improvement on GTA 6 has began “falling behind.” I’m instructed this has management at Rockstar nervous and frightened concerning the recreation lacking the 2025 window and slipping into 2026, and is one other huge cause the corporate is pushing for a return to the workplace in April.
In the meanwhile, I’m instructed that Rockstar remains to be “aiming” for GTA 6 to reach in Spring 2025. Whereas an early 2025 launch is the objective, 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” choice if wanted.
And naturally, it ought to be famous—and I used to be reminded when speaking to people about this case—that Rockstar Video games traditionally waits till the “final minute” to make modifications or alter plans, so the following trailer for the sport—no phrase on when to anticipate that—won’t mirror a delay as the corporate pushes ahead on improvement.
Kotaku has contacted Rockstar Video games
Chatting with 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 improvement.
“We’re involved about going again to that,” stated one Rockstar worker to Aftermath.
“I’ve been by way of a few tasks, each of which had crunch. The primary one was extraordinarily troublesome. I had approach much less grey hair again then. … We need 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 staff—who’re being compelled to return to the workplace in opposition to their needs—gained’t should crunch. In truth, typically delays simply imply extra crunch. Regardless, it’s clear that GTA 6’s ultimate 12 months or so of improvement gained’t be simple or fast as the corporate goals for early 2025.
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