Former Rockstar Dev Says Playing GTA 6 Will Be 'Too Much' After Firings

With the November 19, 2026, release of Grand Theft Auto VI approaching, one former member of the development team is grappling with whether they can bring themselves to play the game they helped build. Jack Hoxby, a former QA worker at Rockstar Games, told the BBC that engaging with the title may prove emotionally difficult following his departure from the studio.

Hoxby was among approximately 30 employees fired by Rockstar Games last year. These departures occurred while staff were in the midst of discussions regarding the formation of a union. "I definitely don't think I will buy it," Hoxby said. "I don't think I'll be able to bring myself to, personally. I might get to it and try and sit down and play it, and it'll just be too, like, you know—I just won't be in the mood to play it. It'll probably just bring back too much."

A Contentious Lead-Up to Launch

The firing of these developers sparked significant backlash, leading to protests outside Rockstar Games offices and drawing attention in the UK parliament. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) alleged that the layoffs were a targeted attempt at union busting, specifically citing that those affected were either union members or actively involved in organizing efforts.

Rockstar Games has maintained that the terminations were the result of the unauthorized sharing of "confidential information," though the studio has not publicly disclosed the specific nature of the information involved. Most recently, the company faced a legal setback when an employment tribunal denied its request to strike claims of blacklisting from an upcoming trial. That trial is currently slated to begin in the months leading up to the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S launch.

Mixed Feelings on the Final Product

Despite his personal reservations, Hoxby acknowledges that the game will likely be a fixture in his social circle, noting that many of his former colleagues will likely receive copies from the company. "I will probably play it at some point, but it is hard to say," he added. "It's something I have thought about quite a lot to be honest."

As the November release date nears, the legal situation remains a backdrop to the launch. While Rockstar has expressed that it "welcomes" a judge's decision to deny interim relief to the fired developers, the union continues to characterize the company's defense as "flimsy."