GTA 6: Take

Zelnick starts by saying, “I think our goal is to deliver something to consumers that has never been experienced before. Being on the sidelines but close enough to the field is very, very exciting. And terrifying. Because the expectations are so high.” Such pressure seems logical: GTA V has sold over 225 million copies since 2013, making it the second best-selling game in history behind Minecraft. As for GTA 6, some analysts predict sales exceeding 25 million units on the first day (it is worth noting that the total number of consoles – PS5 and Xbox Series – on which the game will be exclusive corresponds to just over 100 million units, and will certainly grow on this occasion). This also implies that if GTA 6 were to sell 10 million copies in one day (a record already unimaginable for any other production), it would almost be considered a failure given the high expectations surrounding the game.

For reminder, the game has been in development for over eight years by a team of thousands of people at Rockstar. Its budget is undisclosed, but it is estimated to be significantly above the usual AAA productions, which currently cost several hundred million dollars. On this issue, here’s what Zelnick had to say: “Development costs have continued to rise. And despite the influence of AI, we have not yet seen these costs decline. Maybe that will come. Maybe not.”

Context:

• Zelnick discusses the intense pressure of delivering something unique to consumers with GTA 6, following the massive success of GTA V.

Fact Check:

• GTA V has indeed sold over 135 million copies as of May 2021, making it one of the best-selling video games of all time.

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But then, why won’t the game be released on PC right away? This would have significantly expanded the player base able to buy the game upon its release later this year. Zelnick himself acknowledges that PCs now account for 45 to 50% of sales for a major title, up from 5% twenty years ago for NBA 2K. The market has evolved, but Rockstar seems to want to continue in its current path: “Rockstar always starts on consoles because I think with this type of release, we are judged on how well we serve the core of the community. If your central consumer is not served first and best, you won’t reach the other consumers,” Zelnick announces. He also specifies that this choice is not linked to a marketing agreement with Sony (as the game will also be available on Xbox Series starting November 19).

Context:

• Zelnick explains the decision to release GTA 6 on consoles first, despite the increasing importance of PC gaming in the market.

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The release of GTA VI seems to intimidate the CEO of Take-Two, who has obviously refrained from commenting on the other news related to the game this week, namely the fact that a supposed Rockstar employee has mentioned deteriorating working conditions as the game’s release approaches, and a culture of crunch that has become unbearable in recent weeks. The testimony, shared on Glassdoor, speaks of increased pressure over the past month, mentioning numerous unpaid overtime hours, significantly extended working hours (some employees working until 3 AM), among other challenges. The author of this alert also notes that working conditions have significantly deteriorated at Rockstar in recent times, impacting mental health for them and their teams. While it is undeniable that Rockstar is currently experiencing crunch (a common practice for them), it is currently impossible to confirm the authenticity of this anonymous alert. It is also important to note that previous attempts to unionize Rockstar employees have not been welcomed in the best manner… Don’t worry, the big game will come out. But at what cost?

Fact Check:

• Crunch refers to a period of intense work, often involving long hours, experienced by developers in the video game industry towards the end of a project.