All articles tagged with #rockstar
Clips from GTA VI continue to leak online via the hacker Cyberleek, with at least 13 videos published so far; Rockstar and Take-Two are pursuing legal action and calling the footage stolen, while an official extended gameplay reveal remains scheduled for Netflix on Thursday and neither company has issued a formal comment on the leaks.
Rockstar and Netflix will debut an extended GTA 6 trailer exclusively on Netflix for six hours on August 27, before it appears on Rockstar’s YouTube later that day, sparking backlash over paywalling a major reveal, though Netflix argues it broadens storytelling reach; the game is priced at $80 with a $100 Ultimate Edition and launches November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
A pair of unverified leaks suggest GTA 6 might launch without a disc in initial shipments, with a physical disc version arriving in December for consoles. An email purportedly from Rockstar Support claimed physical copies would be available in the following months, lending some credibility to the rumor, but both sources are anonymous. If true, players could buy a boxed disc later, though day-one buyers may still face hurdles related to online activation and availability.
The Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU), under the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain, has publicly formed and begun preparing a court case against Rockstar Games over the firing of 31 unionizing employees, accusing the company of union-busting. The union is growing across Rockstar sites in Edinburgh, London, Leeds, Lincoln, and Dundee, and is calling for pay transparency, flexible working, and an end to crunch, while fundraising for legal fees as GTA VI looms and Take-Two projects strong earnings.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick says GTA 6 is on track for strong reviews, noting Rockstar’s history of mid-to-high-90s scores as a sign of quality, while acknowledging a changed media landscape; the game is set to launch November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S at a reasonable price, with release date reaffirmed despite past delays.
GTA 6 developers and staff have formed the Rockstar Game Workers Union under the IWGB to challenge Rockstar Games in court, alleging anti-union actions after more than 30 firings. The union seeks pay transparency, flexible working, and an end to crunch, and has spread across offices in Edinburgh, London, Leeds, Lincoln, and Dundee. A trial date has been set but not published yet, with activists and politicians watching Rockstar’s handling of the proceedings.
A Bank of America analyst urges Rockstar to price GTA 6 at $80 to bolster the broader games industry amid rising development costs and inflation, arguing that a $70 price could limit others’ ability to raise prices. Take-Two did not endorse $80 and emphasized value-based pricing, while previous comments from analysts have floated higher prices as a way to sustain AAA titles.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick says Rockstar is prioritizing console players as the core audience, with GTA 6 launching on consoles first before PC; the decision is not tied to a PlayStation deal, and PC sales for major titles have grown dramatically in the past, while GTA 6’s price and any product placement plans remain undecided, inviting public commentary.
Rockstar considered setting future GTA games in cities like Tokyo, Rio, Moscow, and Istanbul, with Tokyo nearly being realized, but ultimately the series remains focused on American cities due to cultural familiarity and logistical reasons. GTA 6 will return to Vice City in the present day, featuring dual protagonists, including the series' first female lead.
GTA 6 has been delayed until November 2026, potentially costing Rockstar up to $60 million, despite reports that the game is already content complete and the delay is for polishing and bug fixes. The delay is significant but relatively small compared to the game's projected $2 billion budget, and insiders suggest the postponement is not due to recent layoffs. Fans remain supportive, encouraging Rockstar to take the necessary time for quality.
Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold 79 million copies since 2018, making it the fourth-best-selling game of all time and the top-selling game of the last seven years, surpassing many popular titles and contributing to a franchise total of 106 million sales.
A Rockstar employee shares insights into the company's union-busting efforts, discusses union resources, and reflects on the broader gaming industry, including Valve's practices and digital distribution platforms like Steam, highlighting issues of corporate culture, monetization, and market dominance.
GTA 5 is set to return to PS Plus in November, while GTA 6's release has been delayed to at least November 2026, with further delays possible, as Rockstar and Take-Two focus on polishing the game.
Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser explained that the GTA series focuses on American cities because of the country's inherent Americana and larger-than-life characters, which are central to the game's satirical portrayal of society. The franchise has historically used American settings like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, and the upcoming GTA VI is delayed until 2026, launching on new consoles and later on PC.
Rockstar is accused of union busting after firing 30-40 UK and Canadian employees involved in union activities, amid high anticipation for GTA 6's release, with the union planning legal action and the company claiming misconduct as the reason for dismissals.