GTA 6 delay may be inevitable in wake of new strike action

Grand Theft Auto VI development could be delayed, due to a wave of strike action sweeping the gaming industry.

Recently, the TV and film industry has faced major delays in media production due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes, which are campaigning for better treatment of actors, writers and other industry professionals by major studios.

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Now, they’re looking to organise a second strike for professionals in the video game industry, which is currently awaiting authorisation.

The goal of the strike is to "win wage increases and protection from artificial intelligence" which has caused a lot of upset in the industry following viral videos of video game actors using their voices for AI content.

SAG-AFTRA currently holds contracts with several major video game companies, such as Activision Productions, Electronic Arts Productions, Insomniac Games, Epic Games, WB Games. The two parties will reportedly resume negotiations on the contracts on 26 September.

While video game fans will undoubtedly support industry professionals in their battle for fair pay and treatment, many will likely be concerned about where this leaves upcoming releases, namely Grand Theft Auto VI. Rockstar’s upcoming title is reportedly one of the most expensive games ever made, yet it is expected to turn a huge profit when it releases, though an official release date is currently unknown.

We also don’t know how far along into development the open-world game really is, so depending on how the SAG-AFTRA discussions go, GTA VI could be one of the many games that face delays due to strike action and further negotiations.

Speaking about the strikes, the SAG-AFTRA said it’s looking for "an 11% retroactive increase in rates for video game performers, followed by increases of 4% and 4%," in addition to protection from AI software. It’s also asked for rest periods, better safety protection for performers, and no stunts during self-taped auditions.

Given how performance-heavy Rockstar games are, GTA VI could very likely face delays if parts of the game’s story or open-world interaction haven’t been recorded yet. Until Rockstar or its publisher Take-Two Interactive confirm anything though, development is still likely running smoothly.

GTA VI currently has no release date but is expected to launch sometime in 2025 on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC.