GTA 6 in Final Stages of Development. Rockstar Devs Return to Offices (Leak)

Source: Rockstar Games / Take-Two Interactive.

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It looks like development of Grand Theft Auto 6 will soon enter a key phase. According to Bloomberg, employees of the studio were informed by Jennifer Kolbe (Studio director publishing team) via email that they need to be present at the studio five days a week. The change will come into effect starting in April.

In the message received by Bloomberg agency's editorial office, Kolbe justifies this order with "productivity" and safety reasons. She also mentioned the "measurable advantages" of working on-site, enabling the company to "deliver the next Grand Theft Auto at the necessary level of quality and refinement, as well as a publishing plan that aligns with the game's scale and ambition."

Unpopular decision may be a hint about the state of work on GTA 6

The decision to resign from remote work is probably not popular among many Rockstar employees. Some devs have found relief in the reduced pressure or even giving up the obligation to show up at the studio during the pandemic. Some of them only managed to stay in their jobs or secure employment in the industry because of this, as demonstrated by the situation at Don't Nod (75% of the company's employees are expected to work remotely).

So the "return to the office" policy may be painful for developers. Especially those working for major studios, often situated in pricey neighborhoods. This is even more disappointing because recent studies have shown that remote work doesn't affect employee productivity (via Bloomberg).

However, Rockstar's decision is unsurprising even if we overlook the measurability of these studies in the context of game development. At the end of 2022, materials from the sixth Grand Theft Auto were leaked online, which were devastating for the entire studio. The company probably wants to avoid a recurrence of this incident, even after the official announcement of the next installment.

The return of the devs to the offices also suggests that the game development is entering a crucial phase, meaning that the game's release may not be as distant as previously thought. GTA 6 will be released in 2025 and an exact date has still not been announced.

However, online users pointed out (via X) that the company anticipates revenue of $8 billion in the fiscal year 2025, i.e., by March 31, 2025. This was supposed to prove that the "six" will hit the market at the beginning of next year. Bloomberg information may confirm these speculations.