Rockstar Games, the studio behind Grand Theft Auto 6, has been accused of unfair working conditions including normalizing crunch, failing to address gender-based pay inequity, and using bonuses as a weapon. The allegations come from three anonymous members of the Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU) in an interview with Game Developer.
Crunch is built into standard contracts
According to the sources, crunch is so prevalent that the company includes a standard opt-out of UK Working Time Regulations in employment contracts. The union ran a campaign to inform workers they could opt back in, leading Rockstar to simplify the process and remove the HR meeting requirement. However, some departments "seem to never get out of it" while others experience none, creating an internal imbalance.
Sponsored Protocol
Opaque bonuses and elusive promotions
Bonuses make up a considerable portion of compensation but fluctuate without clear justification. Workers claim total pay is below market rate and promotions are often delayed with subjective criteria. As seen in other controversies, such as the case of journalist Jon Prosser accused of conspiring to steal Apple secrets, Rockstar now faces similar scrutiny. Bonuses are described as a weapon: a significant part of salary can be withheld without objective reasons, pushing employees to comply with every managerial whim.
Gender pay gap widening
The gender pay gap has widened at Rockstar despite previous initiatives to address it, now scrapped. Union members say workers are not adequately compensated for GTA 6, expected to be the biggest game launch ever. A Take-Two Interactive spokesperson defended company policies: "We strive to provide world-class work environments and career opportunities. We are proud that our employee retention is well above industry average." They added that the company will meet with the union to discuss voluntary recognition.
Sponsored Protocol
To learn more about crunch culture in the video game industry, refer to Wikipedia's article on crunch.
