Rockstar Games
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After claiming GTA 6 devs have crunch "built into" their contracts, union says "first meeting with Rockstar management" was "a step in the right direction"
The Rockstar Games Workers Union has had its first meeting with Rockstar management following its bid for recognition, calling it a step in the right direction. The union aims to negotiate terms including no crunch, paid overtime, pay transparency, flexible working, no layoffs, and protection against AI job replacement. Rockstar has requested negotiations before agreeing to voluntary recognition, and the union is working to define the bargaining unit.
We Need Physical Video Games
This opinion piece argues for the continued importance of physical video game media, contrasting it with the perceived downsides of an all-digital future. The author highlights personal experiences with physical games and discusses concerns about ownership, preservation, and the impact of digital-only distribution on the gaming landscape.
Modder creates a Grand Theft Auto multiverse, opening portals within GTA San Andreas that make GTA 3 and Vice City…
A modder named Dryxio has created a "Grand Theft Auto multiverse" mod for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, allowing players to create portals that connect to Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. These portals are fully interactive, enabling players to shoot through them and seamlessly transition between games, with all three titles running simultaneously within the same process.
GTA modder brings Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas together at last - with portals
A modder named 'Dryxio' has successfully combined Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City, and San Andreas into a single playable experience using portals. This allows players to seamlessly travel between the three PS2-era games, with each running its own physics and AI in real-time. The mod also features a portal gun for custom placement of these inter-game doorways.
When will GTA 6 Trailer 3 come out? Latest predictions and theories
Fans are speculating about the release date of the third trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6, with predictions centering around Take-Two Interactive's upcoming earnings call. While past marketing for Grand Theft Auto 5 suggests a gameplay trailer could arrive in September, two months before the November 19, 2026 release date, the article notes that Rockstar Games' marketing strategies can be unpredictable.
GTA 6 Preorders: What $79.99 vs $99.99 Actually Gets You
Grand Theft Auto 6 preorders are now live for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with two editions available: the Standard Edition for $79.99 and the Ultimate Edition for $99.99. The Ultimate Edition includes exclusive cosmetic items, vehicles, and in-world shops, though these will also be sold separately post-launch. The physical edition will contain a download code instead of a disc, preventing resale or lending.
Physical PS5 Game Sales Are Weaker Than You Might Expect
New data indicates a significant decline in physical PlayStation 5 game sales in the US, with only two titles selling over 10,000 units in a recent week. Experts suggest that Sony's move towards digital-only distribution, driven by profit and control, is irreversible despite public petitions. This trend is exemplified by Grand Theft Auto 6, which will be a digital-exclusive release.
As Sony plans to kill discs, PS5 publisher says "physical games help us reach audiences that digital often can't," even if "digital distribution has made games more accessible"
Serenity Forge CEO Zhenghua Yang stated that physical games remain crucial for reaching audiences that digital distribution cannot, citing discovery in retail, gifting, and accessibility in areas with limited internet. While acknowledging digital's role in industry growth, Yang views physical and digital as complementary, enabling games to reach the widest possible audience. This comes as Sony plans to cease disc production in 2028, a move that has generated significant player backlash.
Games Inbox: How important is the story in GTA 6?
Readers discuss their priorities for Grand Theft Auto 6, debating whether to focus on the story or explore the open world first. Other topics include the accuracy of EA Sports FC simulations, the pricing of physical games versus digital storefronts, and the quality of Donkey Kong Country Returns.
GTA 6 probably won't include any cut content, says GTA 5 producer, even though Rockstar snuck "unannounced" game's missions into GTA 4
Rockstar Games producer John Ricchio stated that Grand Theft Auto 6 is unlikely to include cut content from previous titles, although the developer has done so in the past, such as incorporating missions from an unannounced game into Grand Theft Auto 4. Ricchio explained that the reuse of assets depends heavily on technological similarities between games, but ideas are rarely the limiting factor in development.
Inside San Andreas’ TV Set: A Modder Runs Two Full GTA Games at Once
A modder named DryxioGTA has successfully embedded fully functional versions of Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City within a television set inside Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. This impressive feat allows players to switch between controlling the protagonists of all three games, with the San Andreas world continuing to run in the background. The mod is available for download, showcasing a unique layering of game engines.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Could Shatter Launch Week Sales Records
Newzoo reports that Grand Theft Auto 6 is projected to shatter launch week sales records, potentially earning between $3.25 billion and $5.2 billion globally. Pre-orders on the PlayStation Store have already reached $180 million in the US and five major European markets within the first week. The article also discusses the implications of digital-only sales and the game's potential impact on the lagging video game market.
Grand Theft Auto 6 “Must Be Monstrous” in Size, Says Former Rockstar Producer
Former Rockstar producer John Ricchio believes Grand Theft Auto 6 will be "monstrous" in size and detail, building on the expansive worlds of previous titles like Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption. The article also touches on the game's reported $2 billion budget and significant pre-order campaign, with projections of high first-week sales upon its November 19th release for Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.
Take-Two Interactive’s Positive Cash Flow Opens Up Opportunities for Acquisitions, Says CEO
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick reported strong financial results, with net bookings exceeding expectations thanks to titles like NBA 2K and the Grand Theft Auto series. The company anticipates over $1 billion in cash flow for the upcoming fiscal year, enabling potential mergers and acquisitions. The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to launch on November 19th for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with pre-orders already indicating record-breaking sales potential.
After GTA San Andreas' Hot Coffee debacle, Rockstar makes a "huge effort" to wipe anything cut from its game to avoid accidentally shipping it, ex-dev says
A former Rockstar Games producer revealed that the studio now makes a significant effort to remove all cut content from game files to prevent accidental shipping, a practice implemented after the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas 'Hot Coffee' scandal. This scandal involved a hidden, explicit minigame that was discovered by players, leading to legal backlash and a reissued version of the game without the content.
'GTA 6 needs this': This GTA 5 prison mod turns one of roleplay's most enduring staples into a game…
A new mod for Grand Theft Auto 5, called Jailbreak, introduces a prison sentence system to singleplayer, mirroring the consequences found in Grand Theft Auto Roleplay servers. The mod allows players to serve sentences in Bolingbroke Penitentiary based on their wanted level, featuring elements like prison transport, processing, and escape mechanics. The article suggests that Grand Theft Auto 6 could benefit from such a system, given the prominence of prison in its early reveals.
How Nintendo will beat PlayStation and Xbox to win the console wars - Reader's Feature
A reader argues that Nintendo is poised to win the console wars by avoiding the mistakes of PlayStation and Xbox, who are criticized for focusing too much on power and expensive hardware. The author believes Nintendo's focus on gameplay, creative freedom for developers, and more affordable pricing will attract a larger player base and developers, leading to their eventual dominance.
Shack Chat: What is your favorite Grand Theft Auto game?
Shacknews staff members share their favorite entries in the Grand Theft Auto series, with Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto 5 being frequently cited. Contributors recall memorable missions, soundtracks, and the overall impact these games had on their gaming experiences.
GTA 5 dev "can only imagine the size of GTA 6" – "It must be monstrous"
Former Grand Theft Auto 5 producer John Ricchio anticipates that Grand Theft Auto 6 will be "monstrous" in size and detail, continuing Rockstar Games' trend of increasing scope with each installment. He noted that while the development is difficult, the rewarding aspect of seeing player excitement makes it worthwhile.
Engagement Ring
Grand Theft Auto 6 has achieved the strongest pre-order campaign on record and is projected to sell between 37-51 million copies in its first week, according to analytics firm VGC. The article also briefly mentions Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Resynced selling over 3 million copies.