Ever wonder why we rarely get behind-the-scenes insights on Grand Theft Auto games aside from hackers leaking assets? A recent claim suggests Rockstar Games may have made sure of that long ago, thanks to ‘lifetime NDAs’ imposed on developers. The legally binding agreements allegedly stop any ex-staffers from discussing project specifics even 10 years after leaving the studio. That’s according to gaming interviewer Reece ‘KiwiTalkz’ Reilly.
Reilly recently wrote on X that former Rockstar developers have become increasingly hesitant to participate in interviews. He claimed that even developers who left the company years ago remain extremely cautious about what they can discuss publicly. Particularly when it comes to the studio’s internal development techniques and technologies.
“When I reach out to game devs for interviews this is the response I am getting more and more of these days,” Reilly wrote while sharing a private, anonymous message from a former Rockstar developer. In the message, the developer admitted they needed time to think before agreeing to any interview.
He later elaborated in a post reply, claiming that non-disclosure agreements for Rockstar staff effectively have ‘lifetime’ restrictions. “Rockstar has lifetime NDAs which I am aware of so I know what I can ask and not ask, devs can’t cover specifics even 10 years on they can only speculate or cover general things,” explained Reilly.
Apparently, Rockstar’s lifetime NDA is implemented after the studio released the first Red Dead Redemption in 2010 — at least according to Reilly. “I think after RDR1 the NDAs started becoming real strict,” added the content creator. While there’s no explanation of what may have prompted the change, the wild west-themed game sparked controversy not long after its release.
The studio was accused of unethical crunch, including ‘twelve-hour workdays and six-day weeks,’ along with a salary increase that was much lower than the industry’s average. Despite Red Dead Redemption being one of the most expensive games ever made at the time.
Although the claim should be taken with a grain of salt, Reilly’s timeline somewhat lines up. Obbe Vermeij, a veteran technical director at Rockstar, disclosed much of San Andreas and other projects’ development after he left the studio in 2009. That includes stories about Euphoria, RAGE, and other backend systems, when Reilly said that detailing Rockstar’s engine is ‘an absolute no, no.’
It’s easy to see why Rockstar would want to keep things tightly controlled. With all of its open-world games’ massive successes, and now GTA 6 becoming one of the most anticipated entertainment products in history. Unfortunately for curious fans, though, it sounds like even ex-developers may not be able to spill much anytime soon.
