Rockstar Games could be forced to delay GTA 6 as far back as 2026 if production problems continue due to a mandate forcing remote workers to return to the developer's physical offices. A new Kotaku report says employees are struggling with the "unwanted return-to-office mandate", which could invite crunch. Having been hired as remote staff members, the swift change "caught many by surprise and has led to frustration from staff who feel like they are being pushed out".
Right now, the developer is still aiming to release GTA 6 in the Spring 2025 window, but Kotaku sources claim work on the game is now "falling behind", which could cause a delay to the end of next year. Pushing the title back to 2026 is also on the table and is seen as an "emergency" option. Rockstar Games reportedly cites "security and quality" as the main reasons for mandating a return to in-person work from next month.
GTA 6 was confirmed for PS5 late last year with a record-breaking trailer that revealed a return to Vice City as a setting and main characters Lucia and Jason. Rockstar Games hasn't shared any new details or footage since then, with a second trailer presumed to still be many months away.
[source kotaku.com]
Comments 62
I can’t see this coming out until PS5 has sold over 100M units by 2027/28
That's fine, I might have got through my backlog by then
It’s wild how much pressure is being put on GTA 6 to deliver. I’m not saying people shouldn’t be hype, but we have financial analysts saying it’s the most important video game release of all time which is straight up false. The industry is still going to go through this financial low even if rockstar makes multi billions from this game.
Do we really only have to rely on Rockstar for these types of games?
It's a damn shame that Ubisoft only releases trash and Sony's openworld games have been toothless for a while now (while still good).
None come even close to what Rockstar has to offer. RDR2 is an absolute marvel.
It's depressing that they release every 10 years if we're lucky
Lol it's kind of comical to hear this when you consider the 3 generations they've milked gta5.
Fine by me they should take their time! I can only imagine the stress all the Rockstar developers are on knowing that their game will break all the sales records and be the talk of the world so they have to deliver a 10/10 game, a 9/10 would probably be looked at as a disappointment by execs.
Everyone knows exhausted and unhappy employees make really good video games.
@ShogunRok Ah, sarcasm. So you're robbing me of the only thing I got. That's always nice
Might as well wait for the launch year re-release on the PS6 by that point! And then wait until the 2040s for GTA 7.
I get that returning to office is annoying but we've been waiting for over a decade since the last instalment.. and with the leaks the security concerns are valid from Rockstar.
2099 / 3001 confirmed!
Think it makes sense to return to the office provided that rockstar wants no more leaks about the game to get out.
I mean.. we all expected this, right? Not really a shock
Like this is the only game in the world.... Honestly, what's the difference if comes out 2026 or even never come out? Others will.
Rockstar is being so stupid putting all their eggs in one basket. No matter how great the game is, no matter how well it sells, it's still going to be panned for not living up to the hype, scapegoated for underperforming, and everyone is going to be miserable.
If only I could take my Job home and do it there
Management clucking things up in flight. A knee jerk, panicked decision. Trust the teams to do the work!
Can't even imagine how Sony would be pissed if GTA 6 releases close to the rumored next-gen Xbox console instead PS5 Pro.
Can’t wait for people to complain that game is being delayed but also the same people who are like “game should had been in development for longer”
thats fine with me as I have massive backlog games to catch up. Hope I can clear half of them before GTAVI releases.
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I’m sure GTA 6 will be great whenever it gets released but I’m so focused on other games at the moment.
Their clear emphasis on live service and milking GTA5 for OVER A DECADE makes me not give 2 sh**s about this game or this company.
Eagerly awaiting playing this in my 40s. Sheesh.
@ShogunRok Home working has been a failure in many industries but it is absolute death in the creative profession. Good ideas cannot be brainstormed over Zoom with the kids in one ear and your dog in the other. It doesn't work that way.
The fact that it makes it easier to prevent leaks is another valid reason. Every teenager in the land will be trying to take a photograph of mummy or daddy's Rockstar laptop right now.
And frankly, given how many layoffs we've been experiencing in the gaming industry right now, these devs should be thankful that it is ONLY returning to the office that they are having to endure. There are plenty of people down the job centre right now who would love to have that problem.
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Spring 2025 was already a stretch. Holiday 2025 is more realistic.
Hmm to maintain their constant 97s or top RDR2 would take a lot of development time.
Don't rush the game.
@Czar_Khastik
Don't worry you're PS champ! Nothing comes close.
😂 what was the point in all the big reveal rubbish, clowns. Maybe there's more time to re release another old game with zero upgrades. Put less effort than 90% of PC modders
What a SHOCKER! Noone could have predicted that.
Kotaku just copied Bloomberg then added the "it may get delayed to 2026" but it is pure speculation, they have no source. Well that's according to Tom Henderson anyway.
With Rockstar’s track record I’d say 2028😂😂
Smallest surprise ever. I'm actually just slightly pissed they even announced it, and then for 2025.
@Specky The first part of RDR2 was good, the rest of it is trash, and I’ll avoid talking about the gameplay.
Let them do their thing and release it when it’s ready. We don’t want a half baked GTA 6. If they need their time that’s fine.
They've got to sell the PS6 version of GTA V before they can release this one. Milk a few more extra pennies out of that one as it's not really sold enough yet.
Love it that as a society we've made a generation across generations where an employee wants people back into the office and they spit their dummies out.
Now citing that it may cause crunch and being over worked.
Yea more like these people can't just get up and go to their scheduled mid mid morning coffee shop or to the gym.
They may have to actually get dressed and go to work.
Still baffles me, esp when the truth is because its all being done remotely leaks and hacks are happening easier and rockstar is the biggest developer in gaming. All I know is, if you want to work for the top dogs just obey there rules. You work them not they work for you.
Yes yes the people make the game but its like any job. You still obey the rules because you ain't the boss.
Rather delayed then released broken.
GTA VI maybe now taking even more than " for ever man" is just another reason why the current gen is like not so cool.
@NEStalgia there went that PS5 Pro vs Series X/S GTA6 comparison talk. If this game slips into 2026. I would not be surprised to see MS have the next gen ready and be the better performing place for GTA6 until it hits PC. In my mind i always thought this would get delayed as Rockstar does that a lot and its so important to get it right out the gate.
i really don’t care anymore about this game & whether it comes out anymore. this generation & industry is so stale now , whether it’s the mid & uninspired rehashes of some sort, or inevitable and indefinite delays - previous gens (mainly 7th) and PC gaming is what’s been holding me over. hell, even sony doesn’t even have any planned games before march 2025; it’s really sad .
worst generation of all time
@koverby i guarantee you it’s going to be half baked already . with dan houser gone and others that made gta great , this game won’t live up to the hype of GTA5 . never mind the big disadvantage of miami/florida not being nearly as appealing as LA/Cali
I thought Katoku shut down or something? I really need to stop getting all of my news off of twitter.🤪
That's fine. Will give me a chance to play the first 5 games
@nomither6 geeze I even forgot Houser is gone. Gta without houser is like metal gear without kojima. Better off abandoned.
Idk about Florida though. "Florida man: the game" seems perfect for gta. It's the only place in earth where everyone is even more insane than Cali. Trevor was a nutjob in LA. He's perfectly average in Florida.
@HonestHick Yeah, a lot of people thought there would be a deal with Sony and GTA for launch of pro and all. Once again fans overestimating (and being more forward thinking than) Jim the Strategist lol
Only 7 days, 23 hours and 15 minutes left until PlayStation is liberated 😂
No game can ever live up to this much hype. Its the cyberpunk marketing effect on steroids at this point. I'm convinced 5 only sells because you get a lap dance with every save point.
@LifeGirl Don't forget everyone's favorite studio RGG ended Work from Home too and said it is the reason the new game was well received and came out on time. It was ignored at the time since critics/journalists were too busy talking about the death of the Western gaming world.
Rockstar are pretty pathetic in my opinion. They happily bleed consumers through GTA online, allow a shambles of a remake of a trilogy to launch, do the bare minimum on a RDR remake and pump out GTA5 across 3 console generations.
But they don't have the ability (even with their enormous funds) to do what gamers have been asking for, for years. Disgraceful.
2027 earliest, GTA5 was really good,RDR 2 is boring as f..k and overrated,probably most overrated game of all time. Manhunt 3 pls
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@nomither6
I am choosing not to believe you because I want this to be good. You can’t rain on my parade. 😂
So a 2028 launch title for PS6 then...
And maybe GTA 7, before I die of old age on PS10 😂
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@Specky Oh and by the way, I play everything on every platform.
If RDR2 is one of the best game ever to you, you definitely need to play more games.
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@NEStalgia one game that makes 500 million a year on online micro transactions
@aj21009 A sequel to a game that makes 500m a year in mtx that's a decade late. No guarantee it hits the same critical mass as is predecessor. It's entirely possible 5 still oursells 6 in mtx for the next decade.
@Tecinthebrain Just remember, even if the game is an 11/10, it won't cause people to sell their PS5s to play on Xbox.
All Rockstar games end up getting delayed......... I wouldn't be shocked
Isn’t the PS6 coming in 2026? That takes away the only argument Sony has to get anyone to buy a PS5.5.
@ShogunRok so true
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