GTA VI Online May Support 32 Players, Rockstar Filing Suggests

Rockstar Games has inadvertently revealed that a 32-player online format was discussed internally for Grand Theft Auto VI. This information emerged in a statement submitted to an employment tribunal in Edinburgh, where 31 former employees are challenging their dismissals. The statement details staff members discussing "an online 32 player format" for a confidential project within a private Discord server. Rockstar characterized such gameplay features as among the company's most closely guarded secrets, emphasizing the high level of confidentiality surrounding the discussions. The filing specifies that the 32-player figure was a topic of internal conversation and was treated as highly confidential at the time it was raised. However, the statement does not confirm that 32 players will be the definitive limit when the mode launches, nor does it present the figure as final. Therefore, interpreting this as a confirmed launch specification would be an overstatement of the document's content. The tribunal filing also highlighted the internal reaction to the leak, with one staff member reportedly finding the Discord discussion "extraordinarily alarming." This reaction underscores the strict internal classification of information regarding game features rather than indicating any inherent issue with the 32-player format itself. Rockstar Games employs a dedicated team to monitor for potential leaks, reportedly maintaining five full-time investigators and a director tasked with tracking information security. The company has also implemented physical security measures, such as fitting privacy film to its office windows, following alleged incidents of drones being used to photograph the interior of its buildings. Rockstar explicitly stated its commitment to protecting gameplay and design secrets, comparing its efforts to those of Apple guarding the iPhone or Coca-Cola protecting its formula. This rigorous approach to information security indicates the company's strategy for maintaining a competitive advantage and preventing premature disclosure of game details. The employment tribunal case involves former employees who are contesting their dismissals, and the details about GTA VI's online format emerged as part of Rockstar's defense and explanation of its internal security protocols. The exact nature of the former employees' roles and the specific reasons for their dismissals are central to the tribunal proceedings, with the leaked information about GTA VI's potential player count being a secondary revelation within the legal context. The ongoing legal proceedings in Edinburgh are expected to provide further insights into Rockstar's employment practices and internal operations.