Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar is looking to rebuild itself as a more inclusive company, with leaked details via Bloomberg suggesting that the next game in the series, GTA VI will feature a female main character.
Like GTA V, Rockstar is option for multiple protagonists, and will feature two Latina characters with a story influenced by Bonnie and Clyde.
This is a dramatic change for a series with a reputation for its controversial humour, often poking fun at American culture with a combination of profanity, violence, sex, crime, immature adult humour and racial and sexual stereotypes.
Anonymous employees speaking to Bloomberg, the idea behind the change in the games tone comes as the company looks to change its company culture. Recent remasters of the game removed certain transgender depictions and jokes.
Almost mimicking the culture of the games, it develops, company culture involved taking trips to strip clubs during work time, drinking, fighting and more.
“It’s a boys’ club transformed into a real company,” said one current employee.
At the same time, employees were often pushed to work long hours to meet deadlines, including nights and weekends, with a strategy known in the industry as a “crunch” period. Rockstar is far from the only company using this strategy, and whilst it is financially effective, it takes a massive toll on employees.
Employees have reported that the change in company culture has led to a happier and healthier work environment. This however has come to the disappointment of consumers, who have complained to no end about the length of time GTA VI is taking to develop.
Developers have ‘milked’ GTA V for everything its worth since its release in 2013 on XBOX 360 and PS3. Since then, it was released on PC, PS4 and XBOX One, and again on the latest generation of consoles, the PS5 and the XBOX Series X.
Developers believe that the new title won’t be released until 2013 or 2014, which will mark an over 10-year period between games. Developers are also concerned that the next title will not be the blockbuster hit of its predecessor due to the culture change. GTA V sold 11 million units and made $800 million USD ($1.14 billion) on the first day of release.
