A recent leak offers a glimpse into working conditions at Rockstar Games as the studio gears up for the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI. A Glassdoor review claims the developer has been piling pressure on staff in an effort to prevent yet another project delay.
The reviewer, who says they are a quality assurance analyst from the Bangalore office, describes a sharp deterioration in working conditions. Tasks that would normally take months are reportedly being pushed through in half the time, and workdays frequently run late into the night. Overtime, the reviewer alleges, is not always compensated.
This all revolves around testing one of the most eagerly awaited titles in the industry—the next Grand Theft Auto entry. It’s a pattern that has played out before: during Red Dead Redemption 2’s development, employees similarly complained of punishing workloads and marathon workweeks.
Although Rockstar officially positions overtime as voluntary, the reviewer claims the current crunch is putting serious strain on the team. Staff mental health is said to be suffering, and management is accused of not doing enough to ease the burden.
It’s fair to question the authenticity of anonymous reviews, but the account dovetails with the kind of crunch culture long associated with major studios ahead of big releases. All signs point to Rockstar being determined to avoid a third delay for Grand Theft Auto VI, especially with player and investor expectations at an all-time high.