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Rockstar reportedly orders GTA 6 developers to end hybrid working in the name of “quality and polish"GTA 6 developers apparently not so keen
GTA 6 developers apparently not so keen
Image credit:Take-Two Interactive
Image credit:Take-Two Interactive
The report comes fromBloomberg, according to whom many Rockstar employees are unhappy with the decision. Some Rockstar staff have subsequentlytweeted about(and thus, tacitly corroborated) the news in a less-than-enthusiastic fashion.
Kolbe reportedly justified the move as a security measure, while stating that there are “tangible benefits” from in-person work. Rockstar have reason to worry about security. GTA 6 has been the subject of frequent leaks -footage of a development version appeared online in September 2022, and Rockstar’s first GTA 6 trailer waspinched and screened with a big dirty Bitcoin watermark the day before it was supposed to run.
Ending remote working for productivity reasons is more questionable. While the situation varies between people and between workplaces, there isplenty of evidenceto the effect that fully remote or hybrid working makes people more productive, while also making jobs more accessible for disabled people.
Rockstar’s plan to end hybrid working leaves employees who need or would prefer to work remotely in a difficult position. When Activision tried the same thing with QA staff last year, the ABK Workers Alliancebranded it a “soft layoff” for anybody who can’t return to the office. There’s also the argument that managers want staff on-site simply because it makes it easier to overwork them - Rockstar have a track record for crunching on projects, thoughthey have taken steps in recent years to avoid this.
As for GTA 6, it’s out in 2025, and Bloomberg’s report suggests that the game is, indeed, in the final stages of development. Speculation continues about the final GTA 6 release date (on console, that is). Ubisoft’s Yves Guillemot is of the opinion that it’llfall after April 2025.
