As much as fans were thrilled by the reveal trailer for GTA 6, there was a significant letdown: the 2025 release date. Many had hoped for a 2024 launch, but it appears the highly anticipated game requires more time in development and won’t hit shelves until next year.

Rockstar Games, known for delaying its major titles after announcing release dates, has left some fans anxious about GTA 6’s eventual launch date. However, there’s hope it might break that trend and release on schedule.

According to Bloomberg, Rockstar Games is gearing up for the final stages of GTA 6’s development by asking all employees to return to the office full-time starting April. This news comes early in 2024, suggesting the game is nearing completion.

Unfortunately, this return-to-office directive marks a departure from the industry’s recent shift towards remote work, especially given the pandemic’s influence since 2020. Many employees may find this change disruptive, particularly those who have grown accustomed to remote work or were hired during the remote-work era.

Jenn Kolbe, Rockstar’s head of publishing, justified the decision citing productivity and security concerns, given the studio’s history of hacks and leaks even before GTA 6’s official announcement.

“We’re making these changes now to ensure we can deliver the next Grand Theft Auto with the level of quality and polish it demands, along with a publishing plan that matches the game’s scale and ambition,” Kolbe stated in an email to staff.

Rockstar Games has grappled with crunch culture in the past, a concern that could resurface with the return to full-time office work. The studio claimed to be addressing this issue in 2022, reporting improvements. Hopefully,
this progress holds true for GTA 6, considering the game’s advanced stage of development more than a year ahead of its release.