Rockstar Games
will require all
employees
to
return
to the
office
five days a week starting in April, according to an internal email reviewed by Bloomberg. The video game developer said the decision was made to boost productivity and security as the company enters the final stretch of development on the highly anticipated
Grand Theft Auto
VI.
"Making these changes now puts us in the best position to deliver the next Grand Theft Auto at the level of quality and polish we know it requires, along with a publishing roadmap that matches the scale and ambition of the game," wrote Rockstar Head of Publishing Jenn Kolbe in the email sent to staff.
Grand Theft Auto VI is one of the most eagerly awaited upcoming video game releases but has suffered some high-profile leaks over the past year. Gameplay footage and an early trailer have surfaced online ahead of any official announcement from Rockstar. The company has dealt with security issues before, including a massive leak of Red Dead Redemption 2 assets in 2018.
The mandatory return to office mandate starting in April comes as many employers have adopted hybrid remote work policies during the pandemic. Rockstar cited "tangible benefits" from in-person collaboration as a reason for the decision.
Some in the video game industry have pushed back on return-to-office policies, given the volatility and decentralised nature of development. Major 2023 titles like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 were created fully remotely.
A study last month found remote work had little impact on productivity. But crunch culture remains prevalent in gaming, with developers working long hours to meet release deadlines.
Headquartered in New York, Rockstar Games is owned by Take-Two Interactive and is known for popular franchises like Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, and Max Payne. The company has studios around the world working on upcoming projects.
The next Grand Theft Auto entry will be the first numbered sequel since 2013's Grand Theft Auto V, one of the best-selling games of all time. Details remain scarce, but it is expected to feature an evolving world and two playable protagonists.
With development ramping up, Rockstar aims to deliver the same level of quality and ambition that defined past series entries. But mandating office work has proven controversial across industries during the pandemic's disruption of traditional work norms.
English (US) ·