Rockstar’s Shocking Revelation: GTA 6 Started as “Project Americas” – What Daring Plans Were Axed?

Rockstar Games Confirms Codename and Ambitions for Grand Theft Auto 6

Rockstar Games has disclosed that the initial codename for Grand Theft Auto 6 was “Project Americas,” with the intention of encompassing large land areas across both northern and southern regions of the United States. This revelation stems from an extensive interview conducted by Bloomberg, which detailed the developmental journey of GTA 6, marked by delays, leaks, and trailer releases.

According to the interview, Rob Nelson, co-studio head at Rockstar North, led an initial research trip to Miami in 2015. The project initially aimed to feature vast landscapes across North and South America but was later narrowed down to Miami and its neighboring areas. The game’s development was expected to run concurrently with Red Dead Redemption 2; however, as the latter’s scope expanded, it delayed the progress of Project Americas.

Following the launch of Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar’s workforce nearly doubled from 2,441 to 4,711 employees across 12 locations. During this significant expansion, co-founder Dan Houser left the company, resulting in the promotion of Nelson, Aaron Garbut, and Phil Hooker to lead development roles.

By 2019, the framework of GTA 6 was in place, featuring dual protagonists Jason and Lucia. However, the intricate details of gameplay were delayed, particularly due to the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which necessitated remote work. Nelson remarked on the challenges of maintaining team cohesion during these times.

The release of Red Dead Redemption 2 also exposed Rockstar to criticism regarding work conditions, particularly regarding high-pressure “crunch” periods. In the Bloomberg interview, Jennifer Kolbe, head of publishing, reflected on the company’s self-assessment, emphasizing a commitment to improving work-life balance. She stated, “We all looked at each other and said, ‘We’re not doing it again like this.'” While achievements were noted, she acknowledged that challenges had not been completely resolved.

Bloomberg reported a largely positive sentiment from Rockstar employees regarding workplace improvements, particularly relating to the management of stressful workloads. However, the company is currently facing an employment tribunal in Scotland after terminating 34 employees — 31 from Rockstar North — for alleged gross misconduct, which the dismissed employees claim was an attempt at union-busting.

In 2022, Rockstar encountered a significant setback when a phishing attack compromised its Slack account, leaking unfinished footage of GTA 6. Garbut expressed the emotional toll of seeing early work exposed, describing it as invasive and unsettling.

As development progressed, Rockstar recognized the need for additional time to ensure the game’s quality. Initially announced for a 2025 release, the launch has been rescheduled to May 2026, with further adjustments made upon realizing that date was also unrealistic. Kolbe recounted her conversation with Take-Two’s Strauss Zelnick revealing the delays, which he initially received with disbelief but ultimately understood.

Rockstar did not address the ongoing leaks of GTA 6 footage attributed to a group known as Cyberleek during the interview. In closing remarks, the development team pledged that their next release would not take an extensive eight years, highlighting improvements in their engine, tools, and workforce efficiency. Phil Hooker stated that foundational changes have been made throughout this project, assuring that they will not revert to earlier practices.

The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 is set for release on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X, with a PC version expected in Q1 of the following year.

News Courtesy of Eurogamer