Simply yesterday, Grand Theft Auto 6 developer Rockstar Video games knowledgeable its staff they might be returning to the workplace full-time and scrapping distant work. These staff have responded to the mandate, they usually’re not pleased. Some GTA 6 devs are even stating they concern a return to the “poisonous ‘crunch’ practices” for which Rockstar was recognized throughout the improvement of video games like Pink Useless Redemption 2 and GTA V.
GTA 6 devs accuse Rockstar of damaged guarantees
Rockstar has been attempting to encourage its staff to return to the workplace since final 12 months. When the developer tried to implement a transition to a three-day workplace week in 2023, Rockstar claimed “this isn’t our first step to five days per week. Nobody needs to return to the outdated approach of working.” Now the GTA 6 devs are accusing Rockstar of breaking their guarantees following yesterday’s mandate that staff return to workplace full-time.
An nameless worker instructed VGC that Rockstar is eradicating a distant working lifeline that allowed them to “stability care duties, handle disabilities, and relocate as we’d like.” They continued:
Rockstar is snatching away that lifeline with out a second thought for the employees who’ll be impacted most. After so many damaged guarantees we now concern administration could even be paving the best way for a return to poisonous ‘crunch’ practices. Senior management must rethink their reckless resolution making and interact with their employees to search out an association that works for everybody.
Rockstar had gained fairly a popularity for its “poisonous crunch practices” throughout earlier video games. Lots of the accusations in opposition to the corporate concerned 100-hour weeks, obligatory time beyond regulation, and concern techniques. As such, earlier studies had claimed GTA 6 can be delayed till 2025 to keep away from these crunch circumstances.
Nonetheless, obligatory time beyond regulation was a priority for one more nameless worker who mentioned “simply one in all my issues is being compelled to work late hours within the workplace to take care of contact with international groups when earlier than we might go online from house to attend late conferences.” The issues have meant that the IWGB Recreation Employees Union has additionally issued a press release condemning Rockstar’s actions:
The employees within the IWGB Recreation Employees Union at Rockstar are pushing for transparency over pay and promotions, a wholesome and inclusive office tradition, and work life stability centred round what every employee wants. It’s unacceptable that Rockstar management have gone again on their phrase time and time once more and have ignored the employees’ requests for fundamental working circumstances.
Employees throughout the trade are accomplished with letting executives make reckless and dangerous choices and the Rockstar staff are exhibiting us the beginning of what’s to return in the event that they’re regularly ignored. There’s no higher time than now to affix our union and push for this to be the wholesome and sustainable video games trade we all know it may be.
IWGB Recreation Employees Union chairman Austin Kelmore
Rockstar is but to remark.
