Grand Theft Auto VI is probably going some of the anticipated video games in historical past, with thousands and thousands of gamers world wide ready for any scrap of information or screenshot of the upcoming open-world crime simulator. However, as distant staff battle with an undesirable return-to-office mandate from Rockstar Games, Kotaku has discovered from sources with information of the sport’s growth course of that GTA 6 may miss its 2025 launch window and slip into 2026.
Officially 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 Games is difficult at work on the sequel, which is ready in Vice City, a fictional tackle Miami, Florida. The recreation is ready to come back to PS5 and Xbox Series someday in 2025, and internally that’s nonetheless the plan. Kotaku was instructed by sources with information of the scenario that “early 2025” is presently the aim.
However, Kotaku has additionally discovered that it’s changing into increasingly more possible 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 Games was mandating its staff to return to work 5 days per 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.
While safety and high quality are reportedly the primary 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 attainable retaliation—that growth on GTA 6 has began “falling behind.” I’m instructed this has management at Rockstar nervous and anxious in regards to 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.
At the second, I’m instructed that Rockstar continues to be “aiming” for GTA 6 to reach in Spring 2025. While an early 2025 launch is the aim, sources say they aren’t certain if this may occur and a Fall 2025 launch appears extra believable and possible. Meanwhile, delaying the sport to 2026 is on the desk as a kind of “fallback plan” or “emergency” possibility if wanted.
And in fact, it ought to be famous—and I used to be reminded when speaking to of us about this case—that Rockstar Games traditionally waits till the “last 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 Games
Speaking to Aftermath, one worker shared issues that after bettering over the previous couple of years, Rockstar Games may slide again into dev crunch as GTA VI enters the ultimate a part of its lengthy growth.
“We’re concerned about going back to that,” mentioned one Rockstar worker to Aftermath.
“I’ve been through a couple of projects, both of which had crunch. The first one was extremely difficult. I had way less gray hair back then. … We want to continue the strides we’ve made as a company to remove that toxic culture.”
Even if 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 towards their needs—gained’t must crunch. In reality, typically delays simply imply extra crunch. Regardless, it’s clear that GTA 6’s remaining 12 months or so of growth gained’t be simple or fast as the corporate goals for early 2025.
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