Rockstar put privacy film on windows after drones tried to peek at GTA 6
The developer behind Grand Theft Auto VI is detailing its extreme security measures in a UK employment tribunal, per IGN. Rockstar Games claims it was forced to install privacy film on its office windows after drones were used in attempts to photograph inside.
This detail emerged in the company's opening statement for the case involving 31 UK developers it fired last year. Rockstar insists the dismissals were due to staff leaking GTA 6 features and timelines on Discord, not for union activity as alleged by a workers' union.
The filing paints a picture of a company under siege. Rockstar says it faces constant attacks, from phishing attempts that successfully led to a major 2022 footage leak to fans monitoring employee coffee runs and pizza deliveries for clues. The company employs a five-person investigative team solely to hunt for data leaks.
Internal rules are described as draconian. USB drives are banned, personal devices are blocked from company systems, and even pictures of an employee's desk are forbidden. Rockstar compares guarding its secrets to Apple protecting the iPhone.
The stakes are financially colossal. The note points to a recent hacking incident that allegedly wiped billions from parent company Take-Two's market value. Rockstar argues this hypervigilant culture was well known to the fired employees, who referenced it in their own Discord posts.
The tribunal, which will run until October, will determine if the dismissals were unlawful. The workers seek reinstatement or compensation.
