Rockstar Games
Video games
Best known for developing the Grand Theft Auto game series, with GTA V being one of the most successful entertainment products of all time.

Overall

Owned USA
Rating F
About the Ratings

Company Ownership

Rockstar Games Inc
USA
Take-Two Interactive Software Inc
owns 100% of Rockstar Games Inc
USA
Video games
Video game holding company that owns two major publishing labels, Rockstar Games and 2K. One of the world's largest video game companies.

Company Assessment

(Last updated Mar 2024)
Rockstar Games Inc
Criticism
Tax avoidance
Grand Theft Auto V is the most commercially successful product in the history of the entertainment industry, generating over $5bn in revenue. Despite this, the British makers of the game have paid nothing in corporation tax and received £42m in relief.
Information
Underpaying employees
In 2009, Rockstar Games settled out of court with with "over 100" Rockstar San Diego employees to the tune of $2.75 million (approximately $27,500 per person). The case was brought by ex-Rockstar employees who allege that Rockstar San Diego had "failed to pay overtime compensation ... to certain Angel employees whose primary duties are or were to create, produce, copy and/or install images into video games, using commercial or in-house software computer programs."
Crunch culture
In 2018 Kotaku interviewed with 34 current and 43 former Rockstar Games employees while investigating the work culture during the final year of development on Red Dead Redemption 2. Employees gave mixed reviews. Most said they felt compelled to work long hours (60-80 hours per week), sometimes for no extra pay. As one former employee put it, "If you're really passionate about the game and working there, and want to prioritise that over your life, it's a really great place to work. But if you want to prioritise your life, it's not."
Take-Two Interactive Software Inc
Criticism
JUST Capital ranking
JUST Capital polls Americans every year to identify the issues that matter most in defining just business behaviour. For their 2024 rankings the public identified 20 issues, which are organised under the headings Workers, Communities, Customers, Shareholders and Environment. JUST Capital then define metrics that map to those issues and track and analyse the largest, publicly traded U.S. companies. This analysis powers their rankings, in which this company ranked 613th of 937 companies, and 8th of 16 Household & Leisure Goods companies.
20/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 20/100 in the Interactive Media Services & Home Entertainment category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 23 Sep 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Information
Fined US$7.5m for accounting fraud
In 2005 the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced that this company agreed to pay US$7.5 million to settle charges of accounting fraud.
Source: SEC (2005)
Fined US$3m for accounting fraud
In 2009 the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced that this company agreed to pay US$3 million to settle charges of accounting fraud.
Source: SEC (2009)
Charitable giving
Take-Two has assisted numerous programs over the years. Follow the link for a list of some of the many programs, organizations and causes to which Take-Two has donated.
CDP Climate Change score of C
In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change score of C.
Source: CDP (2023)

Company Details

Type:
Wholly-owned subsidiary

Contact Details

Address:
New York, New York, USA
Website:
rockstargames.com

Products / Brands

Rockstar Games
Grand Theft Auto Action-Adventure Games
Grand Theft Auto Online Multiplayer Games
Red Dead Action-Adventure Games