GTA 6 Development: Rockstar Doubles Workforce, Recruits Real-World Experts for Fashion and Vehicles

Rockstar Games has expanded its team significantly for Grand Theft Auto 6, doubling its employee count and bringing in professionals from various industries to enhance the game's authenticity.

In a recent cover story with Dazed, Rockstar revealed that they have doubled in size since the release of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018, with a new Los Angeles office dedicated almost entirely to developing NPCs. The company, which had around 2,000 employees in 2018, now boasts approximately 4,000 staff members, having expanded through acquisitions in Australia, India, and the new LA office.

The expansion isn't limited to game developers. Rockstar has also hired real-world professionals like Miami-based stylist Jillian Carr, who joined the team in 2023 to help create a 'fashion ecosystem' that captures the diverse styles, cultures, and social classes of Vice City's inhabitants.

'Vice City is built around vanity,' Carr explained to the magazine. 'Between social media, celebrity culture and a constant flow of tourists, appearances carry significant weight, and trend cycles turn over quickly.'

Additionally, Rockstar brought on racecar drivers to refine vehicle handling and commissioned 50 real street artists to design murals across the game's map. Unlike typical consultants, Carr and others are full-time employees who have been integral to the team for years.

The studio also shared new gameplay details, including how eating, working out, and sleeping will affect characters. More information is expected soon, as Rockstar plans to reveal an extended look at the game on Netflix tomorrow, likely providing a deep dive into gameplay mechanics.