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Rockstar North

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Cover of Some New Things I Learned About Grand Theft Auto VI And Rockstar
19 min
Jason Schreier19 min

Some New Things I Learned About Grand Theft Auto VI And Rockstar

The development of Grand Theft Auto VI represents a massive, decade-long undertaking characterized by extreme organizational growth and iterative design challenges.

  • Rockstar Games has doubled its workforce from approximately 2,400 employees in 2018 to 4,700 today to support the massive scale of Grand Theft Auto VI development.
  • The studio has shifted toward a highly structured, data-driven management style, exemplified by the art production team growing from 5–6 people during GTA V to 65 for the current project.
  • Development began as early as 2015, with the project undergoing a strategic pivot to prioritize Red Dead Redemption 2 before integrating foundational systems like advanced NPC mechanics into the new title.
Jason SchreierOct 2026
Cover of Why Grand Theft Auto VI Took 8+ Years to Make
29 min
Jason Schreier29 min

Why Grand Theft Auto VI Took 8+ Years to Make

The development of Grand Theft Auto VI represents a massive, multi-year undertaking that reflects the evolving complexities of AAA game production.

  • Development of Grand Theft Auto VI began in earnest in 2019, following a 2015 conceptual phase that was paused to prioritize the completion of Red Dead Redemption 2.
  • Rockstar Games scaled its workforce significantly during the project's lifecycle, growing from approximately 2,400 employees in 2018 to a projected 4,700 by 2026.
  • A 2022 security breach involving leaked gameplay footage triggered a controversial return-to-office mandate, ending remote work flexibility for staff.
Jason SchreierOct 2026