Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Grand Theft Auto 6, when it eventually releases in 2026, will probably be the biggest video game launch of all time. GTA6 is the game so many are looking towards as the saviour of the industry. And yet, there's something keeping me from getting too excited about it personally—with Rockstar's unbelievably exploitative labour practices, from crunch to its more recent union busting, it has become the very thing its games so fervently spoke out against. It used to satirise the likes of Apple and Facebook—now it just is Apple and Facebook.
That is to say, satire is supposed to help us envision a better world. Grand Theft Auto, as handled by Rockstar, tells us this is as good as it gets. Here's why I'm not excited for Grand Theft Auto 6.
Support the show on Patreon - patreon.com/writingongames
Check out the excellent reporting @PeopleMakeGames has done on Rockstar's recent union busting: youtube.com/watch?v=c9nOwjeznjI
youtube.com/watch?v=8TvWNFBBwuY
0:00 - Practicing what you preach
2:27 - Rockstar is selling you what it told you was bad
4:43 - Rockstar's labour practices
6:20 - Where the real problems lie
8:35 - I've had enough of Rockstar and GTA6
10:15 - Outro
Grand Theft Auto 6, when it eventually releases in 2026, will probably be the biggest video game launch of all time. GTA6 is the game so many are looking towards as the saviour of the industry. And yet, there's something keeping me from getting too excited about it personally—with Rockstar's unbelievably exploitative labour practices, from crunch to its more recent union busting, it has become the very thing its games so fervently spoke out against. It used to satirise the likes of Apple and Facebook—now it just is Apple and Facebook.
That is to say, satire is supposed to help us envision a better world. Grand Theft Auto, as handled by Rockstar, tells us this is as good as it gets. Here's why I'm not excited for Grand Theft Auto 6.
Support the show on Patreon - patreon.com/writingongames
Check out the excellent reporting @PeopleMakeGames has done on Rockstar's recent union busting: youtube.com/watch?v=c9nOwjeznjI
youtube.com/watch?v=8TvWNFBBwuY
0:00 - Practicing what you preach
2:27 - Rockstar is selling you what it told you was bad
4:43 - Rockstar's labour practices
6:20 - Where the real problems lie
8:35 - I've had enough of Rockstar and GTA6
10:15 - Outro
