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Take-Two Interactive CEO confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6 will not be affected by the recent SAG-AFTRA strike, dismissing the possibility of delays over labor disputes.
The strike concluded shortly after his comment, implying that the voiceover and motion capture tasks for GTA 6 might have already been completed. This aligns with the widespread anticipation for the release of GTA 6 in 2025.
Take-Two Interactive, the owner of Rockstar, assures that Grand Theft Auto 6 will not be impacted by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. The publisher's viewpoint on the recently concluded union dispute also provides an indirect indication of the progress of the highly anticipated game. This announcement comes shortly after Rockstar confirmed the release of the first GTA 6 trailer in early December.
The strike initially started on July 14, initiated by SAG-AFTRA due to a disagreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Two months later, the union extended its strike to video game companies, with an overwhelming 98.32% of members voting in favor of striking against major developers and publishers. After successfully reaching a new tentative three-year agreement with top Hollywood studios, the strike was officially concluded on November 9 at 12:01 AM PT, marking the end of its longest strike in history.
Several hours beforehand, Take-Two released its consolidated financial report for the second quarter of its fiscal year 2024. In the subsequent earnings call with analysts transcribed by Seeking Alpha, CEO Strauss Zelnick was questioned about the SAG-AFTRA strike and its potential ramifications for the development of GTA 6. Zelnick confidently stated that the project is "completely protected" from any negative impact of the strike, brushing off the possibility of the next installment in the Grand Theft Auto franchise being delayed due to labor disputes.
Rockstar May Already be Done Capturing GTA 6 Actor Performances
Fortunately, the worst-case scenario of Take-Two never transpired as the strike concluded shortly after the company's earnings call. Nevertheless, by analyzing Zelnick's statements, one can gain insight into the current progress of GTA 6. Specifically, the CEO's confidence in the project's insulation from the ongoing labor initiative suggests that a significant portion, if not all, of the voiceover and motion capture work for the game has already been finalized.
This is not surprising, given that actor performances in AAA game development are typically captured during the middle stage of production. The much-anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, developed by Rockstar, has already passed this stage, as evidenced by the upcoming release of the game's trailer in a few weeks.
To provide context, Rockstar announced GTA 5 in November 2011 and released the game in September 2013. However, the original plan was to have a shorter gap between announcement and release, with a target launch date in March 2013. According to a recent insider forecast, there is speculation that Rockstar may once again aim for an 18-month gap between announcement and release, potentially bringing GTA 6 to the market as early as spring 2025.
Grand Theft Auto 6
Set to be the eighth mainline title in the long running series, Grand Theft Auto 6 is being developed by Rockstar Games.
Franchise Grand Theft AutoDeveloper(s) Rockstar GamesPublisher(s) Rockstar GamesGenre(s) Action, Adventure
Editor's P/S
As a hard fan of the Grand Theft Auto series, I am thrilled to hear that the upcoming installment, GTA 6, will not be affected by the recent SAG-AFTRA strike. This news is a huge relief, as I was concerned that the strike would cause delays in the game's development.
The fact that Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, has confirmed that GTA 6 is "completely protected" from the strike suggests that the game's voiceover and motion capture work has already been completed. This is a significant milestone in the development process, and it bodes well for the game's release in 2025.
I am also encouraged by the news that Rockstar Games is planning to release the first GTA 6 trailer in early December. This suggests that the game is on track for a 2025 release, and it gives fans something to look forward to in the coming months.
Overall, I am very excited about the future of the Grand Theft Auto series. GTA 6 is shaping up to be a massive game, and I can't wait to see what Rockstar Games has in store for us.
