Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier is reporting that Grand Theft Auto VI, which is confirmed to be in development, features a female protagonist. The story also details a gigantic shift in culture inside Rockstar games.
Crunch, seven-day work weeks, and countless hours at the office plagued the developer during the days of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2. Now, as they work on Grand Theft Auto VI, they are a thing of the past. Schreier mentions that employees now have access to mental health and leave benefits. A “flextime” policy lets staff take time off. Mandatory overtime is a thing of the past.
It leads to better working conditions in-house, as well as a reported game experience that is more inclusive.
The first steps to this inclusivity are evident with updates to Grand Theft Auto V. Rockstar canceled a cops and robbers type update after a police officer killed George Floyd in the summer of 2020. Transphobic jokes are removed from Grand Theft Auto V, the company’s gender pay gap is decreasing, and the frat boy culture at Rockstar Games is no more.
As for Grand Theft Auto VI, Schreier confirms some tidbits we already know while also providing new information. The Latina woman will be one of two leading characters. The game’s story, which will take place in a fictionalized Miami, is inspired by “bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde.”
Regarding a release timeline, some are expecting Grand Theft Auto VI to release between April 2023 and March 2024. Developers that spoke with Bloomberg aren’t so sure about that, however. Schreier reports that the game has been in development “in some form since 2014.” Developers interviewed for his article aren’t sure if the game will be released by 2024 and that it is at least two years away.
For more Grand Theft Auto, check out our list of every Grand Theft Auto game ranked from worst to best.
