GTA 6 Devs Accuse Rockstar Games of Crunch, Says Report

Grand Theft Auto 6 Developer Rockstar Games is once again facing allegations about its workplace culture. According to a new report, members of the Rockstar Games Workers Union (RGWU) have filed charges GTA 6 studio of ongoing issues involving crisis, inconsistent bonuses and pay transparency issues, namely the gender pay gap.

The allegations also reignite a conversation that has followed Rockstar Games for years. In the months leading up to the release of Red Dead Redemption 2noted industry reporter Jason Schreier (then-Kotaku, now-Bloomberg) published several investigations into Rockstar Games' chalk culture where developers were forced to work long, long hours. In 2020, it was reported that Rockstar Games was working on these crisis issues and would be released GTA 6 in smaller parts to ensure a stronger work environment. Six years later, that no longer seems to be the case.

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Rockstar explains why it fired GTA 6 developers

Following allegations of union-busting by fired Rockstar Games workers, the studio offers its own explanation for firing the GTA 6 developers.

Rockstar Games' Crunch Culture is reportedly back

According to the Game Developer report, three employees claim that Rockstar Games is trying to normalize crunch by baking it into the contracts of British workers. They also state that there are teams within Rockstar Games that never need to knock, but some departments are working on it GTA 6 or other projects “never seem to get out of it.” There is a bonus system in place, but not only does it justify problems in a workplace, but said bonus system lacks transparency and significantly affects the annual salary, which often falls short of what employees are supposed to earn for the year. As a result, employees allegedly find it difficult to predict their total compensation, with some describing bonuses as a tool that can be used to pressure or influence staff rather than simply rewarding performance. The sources also claimed that the gender pay gap within the company has widened over time.

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One employee claimed that Rockstar's contract includes an exception to the hours rules, which allows employees to work significantly more overtime than they otherwise would be able to. According to the sources, crunch remains common despite Rockstar's past promises to improve working conditions and despite years of public scrutiny. No comparison is made between the chalk imposed Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto 6but it's worth noting that game development has only gotten harder and longer in the years since then Red Dead 2s release.

Meanwhile, employees said unionization efforts for Rockstar Games developers have already begun to bear fruit. According to a source, represented studios have seen significant wage increases since last October, along with changes to several long-standing workplace policies. Rockstar Games will soon meet with the new union in a spirit of “open and constructive dialogue.”

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Take-Two Interactive issued a statement regarding these claims (also available in the Game Developer Report), but whether or not the companies live up to their word will no doubt be a point of discussion ahead of GTA 6s release date and possibly after. In Take-Two's own words,

“We strive to make the best games possible by providing our talented teams with world-class work environments and ongoing career opportunities. We have fostered a culture that is focused on teamwork, excellence and friendliness, and where we support and reward the team at all levels of the business through competitive compensation and benefits policies. We are proud that, as a result, our industry standard has that we have received an industry standard that we discuss an industry standard that is far over a volunteer. We value an open and constructive dialogue with all stakeholders and will meet.”