Grand Theft Auto VI is probably going one of the 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. Nevertheless, as distant staff battle with an undesirable return-to-office mandate from Rockstar Video games, Kotaku has realized from sources with information of the sport’s improvement course of that GTA 6 might miss its 2025 launch window and slip into 2026.
Formally unveiled in December 2023 (after an enormous 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 huge, 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 come back to PS5 and Xbox Collection someday in 2025, and internally that’s nonetheless the plan. Kotaku was advised by sources with information of the scenario that “early 2025” is presently the purpose.
Nevertheless, Kotaku has additionally realized that it’s changing into increasingly probably that the sequel may not land till late 2025. It’s additionally attainable that it might 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 staff to return to work 5 days every week within the workplace starting in April. The quick discover and drastic change caught many without warning 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 advised by sources—who want to stay nameless to keep away from attainable retaliation—that improvement on GTA 6 has began “falling behind.” I’m advised this has management at Rockstar nervous and apprehensive concerning the recreation 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.
In the mean time, I’m advised that Rockstar remains 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 type 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 example—that Rockstar Video games traditionally waits till the “final minute” to make adjustments or alter plans, so the following trailer for the sport—no phrase on when to anticipate that—may not 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 bettering over the previous couple of years, Rockstar Video games might 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,” mentioned one Rockstar worker to Aftermath.
“I’ve been by a few initiatives, each of which had crunch. The primary one was extraordinarily tough. I had approach 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 staff—who’re being pressured to return to the workplace towards their needs—received’t should crunch. In truth, generally delays simply imply extra crunch. Regardless, it’s clear that GTA 6’s last yr or so of improvement received’t be simple or fast as the corporate goals for early 2025.
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