Rockstar Games will impose face-to-face work for the final months of development GTA 6. One of the reasons is protectionist, in order to avoid further leaks. This decision is obviously contested.
In development for several years now, GTA 6 is experiencing its final months of production – if it is indeed scheduled for launch in 2025. And they should not be easy for Rockstar Games employees. In an article published on February 28, 2024, Bloomberg reports that the studio will no longer authorize teleworking, a practice widely popularized, certainly by obligation, during the coronavirus pandemic.
The people concerned will therefore be forced to go to the office five days a week, as was undoubtedly the case in the world before. The media was able to get their hands on an email sent by Jenn Kolbe, in charge of publishing at Rockstar Games. Two reasons supporting this decision are mentioned: one linked to the quality of production, one to the protection of GTA 6 in the face of leaks and hacking.
More teleworking = less risk of leaks for GTA 6?
The choice of Rockstar Games may seem questionable, if we place ourselves on the side of its employees. But, he is motivated by an event that struck GTA 6 full force: a massive leak which allowed us to discover several videos of the game when it was still at the prototype stage. It should also be remembered that the very first trailer for GTA 6, which aired in December, was leaked ahead of schedule. It prompted Rockstar Games to release the trailer straight away, a bit in a panic.
Rockstar Games cannot afford to be the victim of a leak once again, even less a few months before a highly anticipated launch (and which must be controlled). By not allowing its employees to work at home, the studio is minimizing risks as much as possible. The tasks will be carried out in an environment controlled from A to Z, supported by infrastructures that are less fragile in the face of attacks (which is not necessarily the case for an individual, potentially more careless when it comes to cybersecurity issues).
In her email, Jenn Kolbe also highlights the benefits of face-to-face work: “ Making these changes now puts us in the best position to deliver the next GTA at the level of quality and polish it needs, on a publishing schedule that matches the scale and ambition of the game. » In short, Rockstar Games believes that GTA 6 will be better by prohibiting teleworking, which has undeniable advantages, but also some negative consequences according to certain studies (such as isolation).
In a press release released on February 29, the IWGB Game Workers Union specifies that there will be rare exceptions and that the ban on teleworking will take effect from April 15 (with deactivation of remote access). It unsurprisingly raises serious concerns, with employees pointing the finger “ a reckless decision », which could have consequences on health and quality of life – without forgetting the fear of crunch (ultra-intensive weeks). IWGB Game Workers Union had already circulated a petition to maintain total flexibility, when Rockstar Games wanted to return to three days in person per week. “ Working from home has been a lifeline for many of us at Rockstar », Testifies an anonymous employee. Another accuses managers of having done no consultation.
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