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Rockstar workers hit back, PlayStation ditches physical discs, and chipmakers accused of price fixing - Patch Notes #59
Several significant developments have occurred in the gaming industry, including Rockstar Games facing accusations of pay inequity and crunch, Sony's PlayStation preparing to discontinue physical software production in January 2028, and major chipmakers being sued for alleged price-fixing. Additionally, Ubisoft has hired Christoph Hartmann to oversee its Tom Clancy franchises, while Krafton has agreed to pay bonuses to the Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds following a legal dispute and CEO resignation. Microsoft is also reportedly testing a disc-to-digital feature for its Xbox consoles.
GTA6 devs accuse Rockstar of crunch and pay inequity, Spanish Ubisoft devs go on strike
Developers at Rockstar Games have accused the studio of crunch, pay inequity, and using legal loopholes to bypass UK labor laws, amidst the development of Grand Theft Auto VI. Meanwhile, Ubisoft Barcelona developers in Spain have gone on strike over restructuring and job losses, demanding better working conditions and job security. A new fund has also been established to financially assist game developers who have lost their jobs.
Rockstar devs allege crunch is so common at the GTA 6 studio that it's "built into" contracts and you…
Rockstar Games developers are alleging that crunch is so common it's built into employment contracts, allowing the company to bypass UK labor regulations. Developers seeking union recognition also claim there is a culture of unequal pay and inconsistent bonuses. As Grand Theft Auto 6 nears its release, crunch reportedly varies by team, with some employees experiencing it continuously.
Rockstar developers seek union recognition and accuse studio of crunch and poor compensation
The Rockstar Game Workers Union has requested voluntary recognition from the studio, citing issues with pay transparency, crunch, and compensation. This follows legal disputes where Rockstar was accused of union busting. Workers report inconsistent bonuses, difficulty with promotions, and mandated crunch, with the company also reverting on flexible work promises.
Rockstar UK employees say the GTA 6 developer's still plagued by gender pay gaps, crunch, and vague bonuses which make them 'as pliable as possible to their boss's whims'
Employees at Rockstar Games' UK studios report ongoing issues with gender pay gaps, opaque bonus structures, and normalized crunch, despite the studio's work on Grand Theft Auto 6. Union members anonymously shared concerns about a lack of transparency and inconsistent compensation policies, with efforts made to inform staff about their rights regarding working hours.
Union raises concerns over gender pay gaps, bonus management, and crunch at Rockstar
Members of the Rockstar Game Workers Union have voiced concerns about potential gender pay gaps, inconsistent bonus management, and contractual overtime requirements that facilitate crunch. The union is seeking voluntary recognition from Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, which stated it fosters a culture of teamwork and kindness and values open dialogue. Employees highlighted issues with the discretionary and often subjective bonus system, a widening gender pay gap, and contract clauses that opt employees out of UK Working Time Regulations, potentially leading to excessive overtime.
GTA 6 devs have to opt-out of crunch, claim Rockstar North insiders, because it's baked into their contracts
Sources within Rockstar North claim that crunch is effectively built into employee contracts for Grand Theft Auto 6, with developers needing to opt-out of working hour regulations. Insiders also allege issues with pay gaps, bonuses used for compliance, and a lack of transparency in career progression. Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, stated they strive to provide world-class work environments and are open to dialogue with the union.
GTA 6 studio Rockstar "will arrange to meet" union reps following devs' request for recognition, assuring it gives teams "world-class work environments" amid demands for "fairer crunch practices"
Rockstar Games has stated it will meet with union representatives following a request for official recognition from its UK developers. The developers are seeking pay transparency, fairer crunch practices, and better flexible working arrangements. This comes after accusations of union-busting in 2025 and an ongoing dispute with the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain.
Rockstar accused of ignoring pay inequity, mandating crunch, and weaponizing bonuses
Multiple Rockstar Games developers, speaking anonymously through the Rockstar Game Workers Union, have accused the company of failing to address gender-based pay inequity, mandating crunch, and using bonuses to manipulate employees. The developers claim that compensation is inconsistent and often falls below market rates, with initiatives to address pay gaps being scrapped. The union is seeking voluntary recognition and has highlighted that crunch is normalized through UK worker contracts, with employees opting out of regulations.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Studio Accused of Encouraging Crunch, Ignoring Pay Inequity – Rumor
Members of the Rockstar Game Workers Union have accused Rockstar Games of encouraging crunch, ignoring pay inequity, and withholding bonuses. The union also highlighted a lack of transparency in pay structures and career progression. Employees have been informed they can opt out of the UK's Working Time Regulations, which Rockstar Games has incorporated into employment contracts to facilitate overtime.
Rockstar union rep claims GTA 6 bosses can "easily afford" demands after reportedly generating $3 billion in pre-orders as devs call for "fairer crunch" and "pay transparency"
Rockstar Games developers in the UK are seeking official union recognition, with the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain citing the reported $3 billion in Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-order sales as evidence the company can afford their demands. Key objectives include pay transparency, fairer crunch practices, and better flexible working arrangements. The union is also involved in an ongoing legal dispute with Rockstar over the firing of 31 workers involved in union activity.
Diablo 4 lead says small teams crunch "because the company is on the verge of collapsing," but even though it's not "necessary" for AAA studios, "you might still have a culture of crunch"
Marcin Undak, lead engine engineer for Diablo 4, discussed the prevalence of crunch in the game industry. He differentiated between smaller teams crunching out of necessity due to financial instability and larger companies that may have a culture of crunch despite having the resources to avoid it. Undak noted that while crunch is becoming less common, it still occurs in larger studios like Rockstar Games and Ubisoft.
MMO Business Roundup: 2K’s layoffs, Indiana’s Roblox lawsuit, CCP’s rename, and the Tarkov effect
This MMO business roundup covers several industry developments, including layoffs at 2K Games' 31st Union studio working on Project Ethos. Indiana is suing Roblox and Discord over child safety concerns, while Escape from Tarkov's popularity is cited as a driver for the extraction shooter genre. CCP Games rebranded to Fenris Creations to avoid conflict with China, and Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated Grand Theft Auto VI is being developed without crunch.
GTA 6 was delayed to avoid crunch, claims Take-Two CEO, comparing notoriously crunchy Rockstar to college: "You do your homework, you don't pull an all-nighter"
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that delays for Grand Theft Auto VI were implemented to prevent developer crunch at Rockstar Games, comparing the development process to college homework. Despite Zelnick's claims, past reports and recent allegations suggest a history of difficult working conditions at Rockstar, including issues related to union-busting.
Rumor Mill
A rumor from PCGamesN claims that Grand Theft Auto 6 developers at Rockstar Games are experiencing crunch conditions, with employees reportedly working until 3 AM to meet a potential November launch. The report highlights concerns about the development environment as the game nears its anticipated release.
Rockstar Games QA analyst claims GTA 6 crunch has been ‘hectic’ recently in lead-up to launch
A quality assurance analyst at Rockstar India has described recent 'hectic' working conditions and alleged unpaid overtime in the lead-up to Grand Theft Auto 6's release. The review, posted on May 1, claims employees are expected to complete tasks in significantly shorter timeframes than usual. While acknowledging the anticipation for the game, the analyst expressed concerns about the toll on mental health due to the intense work schedule.
GTA 6 dev claims crunch conditions, with staff working until 3am as Rockstar push for November launch
A QA analyst has claimed that Rockstar Games is pushing its development teams to work until 3 am to meet the November 2026 launch date for Grand Theft Auto 6. The anonymous review on Glassdoor alleges overtime without pay and unrealistic deadlines, echoing past reports of crunch conditions during the development of Red Dead Redemption 2.
"This isn’t just something that affects Wizards of the Coast" - Magic: the Gathering Arena team vote to unionise for protection against layoffs, genAI and forced crunch
Developers of Magic: The Gathering Arena at Wizards of the Coast are organizing to unionize with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The union aims to secure better protections against layoffs, address generative AI usage, and prevent mandatory crunch. This move follows similar unionization efforts in the gaming industry and aims to give workers more say in workplace conditions and equity.
The Last of Us led Naughty Dog to accept crunch is "what it takes to make games at our level," former designer says, so Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet devs are probably deep in it
A former Naughty Dog senior game designer, Benson Russell, stated that the studio views crunch as a necessary component for creating games at their level, citing internal deadlines treated as external ones. This perspective, reportedly solidified after the release of The Last of Us in 2013, suggests that overtime is considered inevitable for employees, with an option to leave if unwilling to comply. The article also mentions ongoing crunch for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and the scrapping of The Last of Us Online.
Former Naughty Dog Developer Says Studio Learned From The Last of Us That “Crunch is a Requirement”
Former Naughty Dog senior game designer Benson Russell stated that the studio learned from developing The Last of Us that crunch is a requirement for making games at their level. Russell explained that internal deadlines are treated as external, and employees are incentivized to work overtime, with bonuses offered for larger contributions. Reports from 2020 and earlier also highlighted Naughty Dog's culture of unhealthy working hours, with developers expressing concerns about the sustainability of such practices.
