This move from Rockstar and Take-Two is not surprising, and let us say it outright: this should have been expected from them by default anyway.
Ahead of the release of Grand Theft Auto VI, Rockstar and publisher Take-Two are offering a free perk to players who are still playing Grand Theft Auto V. If we play the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One digital version of the game on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series, we receive a major update starting today, since owners of the previous-generation digital version of the game get a free upgrade to the current-gen version. This saves players from having to spend another $30 on the current-gen version of the game. PC players are not left out either. If we have been playing the Grand Theft Auto V Legacy version, we can upgrade to the Enhanced version for free.
“Beginning tomorrow, those who own any PlayStation 4 version or the Xbox One digital version of Grand Theft Auto V will be able to upgrade to the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series versions at no additional cost, and experience the best versions of Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online before the release of the Kortz Center Heist. Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series offer major technical improvements, easy transfer of Story Mode and Online progress, and new features including Hao’s Special Works high-performance vehicles and upgrades, Career Progress rewards, and much more” – Rockstar wrote.
It is a nice gesture to give players who may still be using an older version of the game a free upgrade to the newest version so they can catch up, but this should not be confused with a genuinely benevolent gesture from Rockstar. It does not mean much when Rockstar gives players this kind of free gift after Grand Theft Auto V has sold hundreds of millions of copies and helped turn Take-Two and Rockstar into giants of the gaming industry.
These are giants currently being accused of anti-union behavior by the IWGB, after Rockstar laid off 34 employees in October, all of whom were union members. While Rockstar claims the dismissed workers were responsible for leaking confidential information, the alleged confidential information actually refers to a closed, invite-only, moderated Discord server that employees used to discuss unionization efforts. The specific information Rockstar allegedly refers to as a leak is that workers were discussing changes to the studio’s Slack usage policy.
The trial dates were recently set: proceedings will begin on September 10 and end on October 15, and depending on what happens during the hearing, it is possible that a decision in the case could be made just a few days before the release of Grand Theft Auto VI.
