A Decade of Grand Theft Auto 5 and Rockstar's Post-Apocalyptic Vision

The gaming industry is known for its rapid pace, often focusing on what's next without considering what came before. However, even an industry so focused on the present can learn from its past. To refresh our collective memory, GamesIndustry.biz runs a monthly feature highlighting significant events in gaming from exactly a decade ago. In September 2013, the industry was abuzz with news, but one story stood out: Grand Theft Auto 5. The game launched on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, with players diving into its single-player mode before exploring its multiplayer component, Grand Theft Auto Online. Two console generations later, the game continues to thrive, with Take-Two Interactive shipping another five million copies last quarter, bringing its lifetime total to 185 million. While everyone expected Grand Theft Auto 5 to be a hit, no one anticipated its massive success, not even Take-Two chairman and CEO Strauss Zelnick. When Grand Theft Auto Online launched, the company was still learning about virtual currency sales and the game's reception. Zelnick noted that the company had experience with virtual currency sales from NBA 2K, but not with an online offering like Grand Theft Auto Online. The game's success has been a learning experience for the company, with Zelnick acknowledging that they continue to learn about consumer behavior as it occurs. The original Xbox 360 and PS3 version of Grand Theft Auto Online shut down a couple of years ago, but the game remains available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. While the game's financial success is well-documented, there is more to the story. The development of Grand Theft Auto 5 was marked by crunch time for the development team, with Rockstar glorifying crunch in press interviews. Rockstar co-founder Sam Houser explained that game development should always be difficult, citing the film Apocalypse Now as an inspiration. However, this approach has raised concerns about the treatment of employees and the impact on their well-being. Former Rockstar developers have spoken out about the harsh working conditions, with some describing the studio as a cult. The company's culture has been criticized for prioritizing the game's success over employee welfare. In recent years, there have been signs of change, with Rockstar implementing positive changes, including changes to scheduling and greater investment in producers. The gaming industry has a long history of being weird about women, and September 2013 was no exception. The reaction to GameSpot reviewer Carolyn Petit's mention of Grand Theft Auto 5's misogyny in her review was hostile, while a woman working at Sony Online Entertainment shared her experience of choosing her EverQuest character to minimize sexist overtures. The industry has made progress since then, but there is still much work to be done. In other news, celebrated Metal Gear Solid director Hideo Kojima faced criticism for his comments on making Metal Gear Solid 5 characters more erotic. Kojima clarified that he wanted to create unique characters, not just erotic ones, but the controversy highlighted the industry's ongoing issues with representation and objectification. The month also saw significant events, including Andrew Wilson being named CEO of EA, Sega acquiring Atlus, and Blizzard killing the Diablo 3 real-money auction house. Former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi passed away, and Valve moved into the hardware market with the announcement of Steam Machines and the Steam Controller. China lifted its ban on game consoles, and PlayStation Vita TV was announced. The industry has come a long way since then, with many studios prioritizing employee welfare and diversity. However, there is still much work to be done, and the industry must continue to learn from its past to create a better future.