Rockstar Games has revealed that the original codename for GTA 6 was Project Americas, with early plans aiming to cover large areas of land across both North and South America. According to a Bloomberg interview, the scope was eventually scaled down to Miami and its surrounding areas as the studio navigated development hurdles, game leaks, and internal changes.
Early Development and Studio Changes
Rob Nelson, co-studio head of Rockstar North, led a research trip to Miami in 2015. The initial idea was to develop the game alongside Red Dead Redemption 2, but the western title's growing ambition pushed Project Americas back by several years. Following the release of Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar nearly doubled its workforce, expanding from 2,441 to 4,711 employees across 12 offices.
Co-founder Dan Houser, who wrote many previous titles, departed the company, leading to promotions for Nelson, Aaron Garbut, and Phil Hooker into head of development roles. By 2019, the core structure of GTA 6 and its dual protagonists, Jason and Lucia, were in place. However, Nelson noted that the granular details and mechanical intricacies took longer to finalize, especially when the Covid-19 pandemic forced the team to work from home.
Addressing Crunch and Labor Disputes
Red Dead Redemption 2 painted Rockstar as a company working with extreme levels of crunch, according to a previous investigation by Eurogamer. Jennifer Kolbe, Rockstar's head of publishing, stated in the Bloomberg interview that the studio made a conscious effort to change its practices. Kolbe noted that while the situation is not perfect, it has improved significantly since the previous game, adding that the team agreed they would not repeat those extreme working conditions.
Bloomberg reported that dozens of employees mostly expressed positive sentiments regarding these changes, including the removal of abusive managers. However, Rockstar is currently facing an employment tribunal in Scotland after firing 34 employees, 31 of whom were based at Rockstar North. The company alleged gross misconduct, while the fired staff described the move as union-busting. Eurogamer noted it has been covering the tribunal's hearings, which are expected to conclude at the end of the week.
Leaks and Release Delays
In 2022, a phishing attack compromised the company's Slack, resulting in leaked unfinished footage of the game. Rockstar declined to comment on more recent, ongoing leaks attributed to a group or individual known as Cyberleek.
It feels like somebody's wading through your dirty washing. It's like they're inside your head. You see your early work out there. Nobody's ever supposed to see that. It's really weirdly invasive. And so it's quite hard to deal with on an emotional level.
Aaron Garbut, Head of Development, Rockstar Games
As development continued, Rockstar realized it needed more time. The initial 2025 release window announced in the 2023 trailer was pushed to May 2026, and then delayed again. Kolbe recalled informing Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick, who initially reacted with disbelief, asking her to tell him she was kidding, before understanding the necessity of the delay.
Future Plans and Launch Details
Looking ahead, Hooker stated that Rockstar's next project will not take another eight years, as the engine, tools, and team are now established. Garbut added that the foundational changes made during this project will remain in place moving forward.
GTA 6 is scheduled to launch on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X. A PC version is reportedly planned for the first quarter of next year.
This article was written by AI from reporting by eurogamer.net.
