Jérémy Hartvick, an open-world designer on RDR2 and GTA 6, says Rockstar can afford its teams and that the real risk is failing to meet expectations.
Sources gamesradar.com
With BioWare closed by EA and Xbox cutting 3,200 jobs, GamesRadar+ gives the floor to a Rockstar alumnus who thinks the studio behind GTA 6 is safer than most.
An open-world designer on Red Dead Redemption 2 and GTA 6 who left in 2020, he spoke on the Kiwi Talkz podcast. "I never heard the question of, we need to see if we need to downsize, or if we can afford it. Rockstar can afford it," he said. "The question is whether you can meet the expectations, and if you don't, then you might not last. But otherwise it's not a question of money."
GamesRadar+ agrees the argument holds: GTA V and RDR2 sell non-stop, and GTA Online and Red Dead Online bring recurring revenue. GTA V was still in the top five PS5 digital games in Europe in September.
Not over budget. From continental Europe, he lived in Scotland to work at Rockstar North in Edinburgh. He cites a family situation that required being closer to home, and the workload: "The quantity of work made it more difficult to be present." GTA 6 was, in hindsight, eight years away, and he wondered whether he wanted that marathon.
Read also GTA 6 style ads: brands copy Vice City without Rockstar's backing
GamesRadar+ notes Rockstar is in the middle of an employment tribunal after suddenly letting staff go last year over allegedly spurious reasons. "It's still a corporation," the site writes. We covered headcount in our piece on the 4,700 employees and the Los Angeles studio.
Nothing for the November 19 date. But the testimony comes from someone who knows the house from inside, though he left six years ago: it describes a financially solid company, not a team shielded from pressure. He talks about 2020, not today, and says nothing of the ongoing tribunal. Read it with that caveat.
Sources gamesradar.com
Reported Reported by the press, not confirmed by Rockstar
By Daniel Jasner · GTAVIFRANCE newsroom
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