Beyond the Delay: How GTA 6's Development Culture Aims to Surpass Red Dead 2's Legacy

While Grand Theft Auto 6 will inevitably be compared to Grand Theft Auto V, especially in terms of the numbers that it will put up at launch and for the foreseeable future, one game that it will have to live up to and try to exceed is Red Dead Redemption 2.

There's no way of telling whether GTA 6 will outdo the 2018 title in terms of quality and awards won. But we can say that it's already better in at least one key aspect: workplace culture.

As reported by Jason Schreier back in 2018, Rockstar wasn't the best place to work at, especially in the lead up to RDR 2's development. Developers reported working up to 80 hours per week, with many describing a toxic environment that led to serious personal consequences. The culture was so intense that some employees experienced damaged relationships, mental health issues, and there were even reports of heavy drinking in the workplace as people struggled to cope with the pressure.

Once this came to light, Rockstar, and the entire video game industry, pretty much had to do a 180 then and there, addressing the systemic issues that led to such a problematic workplace environment.

Seven years later and the same person who happily blew the whistle is happy to say that things are much better now over at the makers of Grand Theft Auto

According to the New York Times best-seller author on Bluesky, the company has made substantial changes to how it manages developer workloads, with Schreier describing the difference as "night and day" compared to previous projects.

This couldn't come at a more relevant time, as Rockstar recently announced that GTA 6 would be delayed until May 26, 2026, moving back from its original Fall 2025 release window.

While delays are often disappointing (and, in GTA 6's case, with industry-wide consequences), this particular postponement is actually good news.

Schreier claims that there's now a "real desire from management to avoid brutal crunch" at Rockstar. This suggests that the delay isn't just about polishing the game but represents a fundamental change in how the company approaches development timelines.

Rather than forcing developers to work unreasonable hours to meet an unrealistic deadline, Rockstar appears to be adjusting its schedule to accommodate healthier working conditions.

It was previously reported that Rockstar announced a return-to-office mandate in preparation for the final development push for GTA 6. Many worried that this hinted at Rockstar returning to old habits.

Thanks to the latest report, we now know that this extra time allows the developers to create the game without sacrificing their health puts the delay in a much more positive light.

With this revised timeline and improved working conditions, GTA 6 has a better chance of meeting the enormous expectations placed upon it.

It still stings knowing that Take-Two Interactive most likely already knew that the GTA 6 delay was inevitable. However, giving the development team the time and resources they need, without demanding excessive sacrifice, is likely the best path to creating another revolutionary entry.