Two weeks ago, after the Rockstar Game Workers Union accused the company of anti-union practices, reports began surfacing about working conditions inside the GTA 6 studio.
Uncovering Rockstar's Working Conditions
It turns out that, for Rockstar, crunch isn't an occasional special event but rather the status quo.
According to a Game Developer article from July 1, Rockstar employees report that crunch is "baked into their contracts," meaning that overtime is required unless the employees state otherwise. "Overtime isn't something you agree to — it's something you have to actively decline," one employee told Game Developer. "And declining comes with its own risks when review time comes around."
Another report from PC Gamer stated that bonuses within the Rockstar UK structure are a "feature that makes them as pliable to their boss's whims as possible," with "a fifth of your salary could be withheld without any justification."
On top of the crunch and bonuses, there are also allegations of a gender pay gap within the company. Rockstar has been accused of maintaining an unjust pay disparity between men and women that continues to this day despite internal efforts to combat it.
These claims were raised by developers who spoke to Eurogamer and Game Developer. Rockstar did not comment directly on the specific pay gap reports. When asked about their general stance on the union's formation and recognition, a spokesperson for Rockstar stated that they strive to offer "world class work environments and ongoing career development opportunities."
While making GTA VI, the union has fought to be recognized by Rockstar to establish better working conditions. Among the issues raised were demands for pay transparency, changes to crunch policies, and more flexibility with working arrangements.
Shanti Easton-Steel, a Rockstar North production coordinator and union member, said in a press release: "It's thanks to the hard work of so many of our members — both those currently with us and those who were fired last October — that we are now in a strong enough position to pursue formal recognition."
The $3 billion in estimated pre-order revenue — based on modeling from the University of Virginia — is an open invitation to Rockstar to meet their demands. IWGB Union president Alex Marshall directly challenged the company: "When they've got that much money, it makes it much easier to say, we can afford this. Rockstar bosses can easily afford to sit around the table with the people whose hard work created these games, and give them a meaningful voice in their workplace."
So far, Rockstar has acknowledged that they have received the union's request and will "arrange to meet" to discuss voluntary recognition.
GTA 6 is scheduled to be released on November 19, 2026, and it is reasonable to expect that, as the release date approaches, the working conditions at Rockstar will only worsen. As the final stretch of development begins, Rockstar employees will likely have to work extended hours to meet the game's deadline. During the development of Red Dead Redemption 2, workers were known to work 100+ hour work weeks.
If Rockstar were to recognize the union before the deadline, they would become one of the few game companies whose workers have formal labor representation. If this does not happen, we can expect further accusations against Rockstar as the game's launch date approaches.
Keep an eye out for Rockstar's response to the union's request, and any further allegations that may surface in the coming weeks. The company may decide to change its policies regarding crunch and pay practices, or face an internal revolt as the GTA 6 launch date approaches.