A new Glassdoor review from a reported Rockstar Games employee in Bengaluru has sparked fresh concern around crunch culture as Grand Theft Auto VI moves closer to release. The review, posted by a current QA analyst, claims that employees are being pushed through unrealistic workloads, unpaid overtime, and increasingly hectic schedules while working on what the reviewer calls “the most anticipated entertainment project in the world.”
The review has quickly gained attention online because of GTA 6’s current release window. Rockstar has officially confirmed that Grand Theft Auto VI is set to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, making this one of the most important production periods for the studio.
Rockstar India Employee Claims Staff Are Working Overtime Without Pay
According to the Glassdoor review, the employee claims that some team members are expected to work overtime without pay. The review also says the work schedule has been “hectic” since the previous month, with some colleagues allegedly working until 3 AM after completing their regular shifts.
The most concerning part of the review is the workload itself. The employee claims the team is being asked to finish tasks that would normally take five to six months in just two to three months. While Glassdoor reviews are individual accounts and should be treated as claims unless confirmed by the company, the post paints a worrying picture of pressure inside the Rockstar India team.
Mental Health Concerns Add More Weight to the Crunch Allegations
The review also mentions that the last few weeks have taken a toll on the employee’s mental health. In the advice to management section, the reviewer says they enjoyed working at the company in the previous year, but asks management to be more lenient and remember that employees are human too.
GTA 6’s November 2026 Release Date Puts Rockstar Under Massive Pressure
Grand Theft Auto VI is not just another game launch. It is arguably the most anticipated entertainment release in the world right now, and Take-Two has repeatedly shown confidence in the November 19, 2026, release date. Recent reporting also noted that Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said marketing for GTA 6 would begin “soon,” further suggesting that the company is preparing for a major push toward launch.
That pressure may explain why fans are connecting this Glassdoor review to GTA 6’s final production stretch. However, it is important to separate the confirmed facts from the claims. The release date is official. The Glassdoor review exists and includes serious allegations. What has not been confirmed publicly is whether these working conditions are widespread across Rockstar India or directly tied to a studio-wide push to avoid another delay.
Rockstar Has Faced Crunch Criticism Before
This is not the first time Rockstar’s work culture has been discussed publicly. During the Red Dead Redemption 2 era, reports and employee discussions around overtime placed Rockstar under the spotlight, with QA and production teams becoming part of a larger industry conversation about crunch. Forbes reported in 2018 on a Rockstar QA employee discussing overtime and working conditions at the company’s Lincoln studio.
The gaming industry has spent years talking about how to reduce crunch, but the issue has never fully gone away. Large AAA games are expensive, complex, and deadline-driven, but that does not make unpaid overtime or extreme schedules acceptable if the claims are accurate.
Grand Theft Auto VI is heading toward a November 19, 2026, release, and expectations could not be higher. But this new Rockstar India employee review has added another layer to the conversation around the game.
If the claims of unpaid overtime, 3 AM workdays, and compressed production timelines are accurate, then Rockstar’s biggest challenge may not just be finishing GTA 6. It may be doing so without repeating the same crunch problems the industry has been trying to move away from for years.
