A former Rockstar Games developer has revealed what it was like working on Grand Theft Auto VI, one of the most anticipated video games of all time.
In a new interview with the YouTube channel KIWI TALKZ, environment artist David O’Reilly shared behind-the-scenes stories about the long and secretive development process at Rockstar.
5 Years on GTA 6 — But Still in the Dark
David worked on GTA V, Red Dead Redemption 2, and GTA VI. Even after five years on GTA 6, he said developers only focus on their assigned tasks and don’t see the full game.
For example, he doesn’t know anything about the story or what the characters Jason and Lucia are doing — despite helping build the world they live in.
“I have no idea other than there are two characters,” he admitted.
A Constantly Changing Game
O’Reilly explained that Rockstar’s games evolve throughout development. Tools and technology improve over time, and many features get added late in the process. For example, advanced graphics tools like parallax shaders were added toward the end of GTA V and RDR2 — and he expects the same for GTA VI.
“The tech will have come along massively in the two years I’ve been away,” he said.
The “Eye of Sauron” — When the Housers Show Up
Rockstar founders Dan and Sam Houser, known for shaping the stories and vision of the games, rarely appeared in person, but their visits created a buzz.
“There would be whispers — ‘Dan’s here, Dan’s here,’” David recalled, likening it to the “Eye of Sauron” from Lord of the Rings. “There would be a flurry of movement.”
He mentioned one time when a friend of his even went jogging with one of the Houser brothers — who showed up with a 12-14 person entourage.
More Insights Coming
The full interview with David O’Reilly contains more stories about Rockstar’s work culture and development process. KIWI TALKZ has interviewed several Rockstar insiders recently, including a former tech director who discussed what GTA 7 might look like.
