Project Origins and Scope Reduction
Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson led an initial research trip to Miami in 2015 while the project, then called Project Americas, targeted extensive land areas across North and South America. Development was originally planned to run alongside Red Dead Redemption 2, but the western game's expanding scope delayed GTA 6 by several years. By 2019 the team had established the core concept of protagonists Jason and Lucia pursuing a shared crime fantasy.
Company Expansion and Development Hurdles
Following Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar nearly doubled its workforce from 2,441 to 4,711 employees across 12 offices. Co-founder Dan Houser departed, leading to promotions for Rob Nelson, Aaron Garbut, and Phil Hooker. The Covid-19 pandemic then forced remote work, complicating efforts to maintain team cohesion during the creation of finer gameplay systems.
Crunch Reforms, Leaks, and Release Adjustments
Rockstar acknowledged past extreme crunch on Red Dead Redemption 2 and stated it aimed to improve conditions, with head of publishing Jennifer Kolbe noting the company examined its practices and made changes. A 2022 Slack phishing incident leaked early footage, while trailer release dates were pushed from 2025 to May 2026 and then further adjusted. The studio now targets a November 19 launch on current-generation consoles, citing improved tools and processes to avoid another eight-year wait for the next title.