Rockstar, an American video game publisher, has announced that its employees are required to come back to the office five days a week, starting from April. This decision was made to increase security due to previous breaches, and it coincides with the final stages of Grand Theft Auto VI’s development. However, a recent report from Video Games Chronicle (VGC) reveals that some Rockstar employees are unhappy with the mandatory return to the office on a full-time basis.
In an internal email sent to employees, the company explained that the move was necessary due to productivity and security concerns. Jenn Kolbe, the head of publishing at Rockstar, also emphasized the benefits of working from the office, claiming that it would help the team deliver Grand Theft Auto VI with the necessary quality and polish, in line with the ambitious scale of the game’s publishing roadmap.
But some employees argue that working from home is crucial, serving as a “lifeline” for many, while others are frustrated that they were not consulted before the decision was made. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) and some Rockstar employees strongly oppose the company’s directive to return to the office. They fear that abandoning remote work may lead to the resurgence of detrimental working conditions and the return of demanding crunch practices (overtime work to meet project deadlines).
They are calling for senior leadership to reconsider the decision and engage with staff to find a mutually beneficial arrangement. Employees prefer the previous flexibility of attending late meetings from home and emphasize the potential negative impact on family time.
