Rockstar Games is taking extreme measures to protect the secrets surrounding Grand Theft Auto 6’s online component, likening its confidentiality to that of Coca-Cola’s formula or Apple’s iPhone innovations. This revelation comes from legal documents filed in an Edinburgh employment tribunal, where 31 former Rockstar employees are contesting their dismissals.
Online Mode Discussions Went Underground
The core of the legal dispute involves discussions held on a private Discord server. According to court filings, former employees discussed features for a confidential project, including a reference to a “32-player online mode.” Rockstar has vehemently argued that the specifics of game features, including this player count, constitute “the Company’s most closely guarded secrets.” One employee reportedly found the discussion “extremely shocking.” It’s important to note that the mention of a 32-player mode in the documents does not confirm the final player count for GTA 6’s online experience, but rather confirms that such a possibility was indeed discussed internally and was subject to strict confidentiality.
Limited Information on GTA 6 Online
Details about GTA 6’s online mode remain scarce. One former Rockstar developer suggested that players might eventually be able to create and monetize their own stories through role-playing within the game. Renowned Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier has also indicated that Rockstar has no immediate plans to publicly discuss the final form of GTA 6’s online mode.
Fortress-Like Security Measures
To emphasize the level of secrecy, Rockstar has drawn parallels between its security protocols and those of the world’s most secretive corporations. The company stated, “Protecting the secrets of unique gameplay and design is like Apple protecting the iPhone, or Coca-Cola protecting its formula.”
Rockstar’s security protocols are extensive. All visitors must sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) before entering company premises. Contractors are required to be escorted by security personnel, remote work is heavily restricted, and external storage devices are completely prohibited. Photography is forbidden within the offices, and employees are not permitted to connect personal devices like phones, tablets, or laptops to Rockstar’s internal systems. The company reportedly employs five full-time investigators and one supervisor dedicated to monitoring for potential leaks. Following a prior incident where an alleged drone was used to photograph the office interior, privacy film was added to the building’s windows.
The Shadow of Past Leaks
The legal documents also touch upon the massive GTA 6 leak that occurred in 2022. That breach reportedly began with a phishing attack that compromised an employee’s computer, granting access to the company’s internal Slack channels. Rockstar has faced multiple leaks since then. The company previously disclosed that an employee was terminated for allegedly leaking information that was later published by prominent leaker GameRoll, lending credibility to several major gameplay reveals.
GameRoll’s alleged revelations at the time included the ability to freely explore a shopping mall, a feature allowing vehicles to be used as weapon storage, and the game being structured into five story chapters. These incidents underscore Rockstar’s heightened vigilance regarding the sensitive nature of GTA 6’s development.
