Rockstar Games is likely to break all commercial records when Grand Theft Auto 6 releases in November, but the slew of recent allegations against the studio are forcing us to question the human cost of making a game like GTA 6.
Rockstar has already been embroiled in controversy over the firing of 31 workers who attempted to form a union last year. Now, a new interview with the game's developer has revealed some of the blatant anti-worker practices being implemented at Rockstar.
Three members of the newly formed Rockstar Game Workers Union (RWGU) spoke to the publication anonymously, fearing retaliation if they came forward publicly.
Gender pay inequality, inconsistent compensation, and crises remain issues at Rockstar.
According to employees, Rockstar's pay structure relies heavily on bonuses that can change at the whim of bosses. This inconsistent approach to compensation can lead studios to put pressure on people. This is because failing to ‘play ball’ can significantly reduce your bonus.
“The biggest problem is [bonuses and progression are] “It’s all completely at the company’s discretion and there’s no obligation to show your work,” one employee explained. “Employees want good pay, and if literally everything they do that year can affect their pay, they will naturally feel the need to be as flexible as possible to their boss’s whims. Imagine [how you might feel if] “A fifth of your salary can be withheld without good reason or due to just one unexpected factor.”
The crunching required to develop Red Dead Redemption 2 is well-documented, with one employee saying the crunching has become so standardized at the company that it's reflected in contracts.
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“Crunch is so widespread that companies are entering into contracts that opt out of working hours regulations as standard. [UK law that limits working hours unless the employee voluntarily forfeits this right] “Then employers will not be able to require more than 10 hours of extra work each week,” they explained.
The interview went on to say that while many employees had to return to the office and give up hybrid/remote work benefits, the order did not apply to company leaders.
Gender pay inequality remains an issue at Rockstar as well, with the average pay gap between genders actually increasing. According to one of the people interviewed, all plans put in place to address this issue have since been scrapped.
All of this combined to make employees feel like they had to join a union to get rights and fair treatment from Rockstar.
