Bank of America told investors that a new GTA Online could arrive in the first quarter of 2027. Rockstar’s UK staff will vote on union recognition from 12 to 26 November, across GTA 6’s launch week. GTA 6 is 21 days away. Elsewhere, a BioWare co-founder has spoken about the studio’s closure, Witchbrook has a January date, and Phantom Blade Zero is out today.
Bank of America puts a new GTA Online in early 2027
In a memo to investors seen by Business Insider, Bank of America said a new version of GTA Online could launch in the first calendar quarter of 2027, GameSpot reported on 28 October. Rockstar’s own line, on the Newswire on 24 June, is that GTA 6 “is a single player experience”. The bank rates Take-Two a buy with a $330 price target, down from $380. GameSpot puts Take-Two’s shares down 21% this year and under $200 this week, against a 52-week high of $265.
Rockstar’s union vote runs 12 to 26 November
Rockstar’s UK employees will vote on recognising the IWGB Rockstar Game Workers Union between 12 and 26 November, the week before and the week after GTA 6’s 19 November launch, PC Gamer reported on 27 October. Recognition terms have been under negotiation since July, and recognition would give staff a say on pay and bonuses, overtime, redundancies, flexible working and generative AI policy. PC Gamer cites Bloomberg, which quoted Rockstar’s head of publishing, Jennifer Kolbe, saying the studio would not fight a union. Our July report covers how the recognition request began.
Edge’s GTA 6 cover story is out today
Edge issue 430 went on sale today with a GTA 6 cover feature that adds a smell system, a Criminal Profile scale and working buses and trains. Our full report sets out what is new against what was already known, along with the Rockstar-credited GTA 6 clip South Park aired last night.
BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk calls the EA buyout “the final nail in the coffin”
Speaking to 80 Level, as IGN reported, Zeschuk said he had done his grieving when he and Ray Muzyka left BioWare in 2012. He called the closure saddest for Edmonton, and tied it to the buyout of EA led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. IGN puts the closure at 50 BioWare jobs within 400 cuts across EA. Our report on the closure: EA closes BioWare and cancels the next Mass Effect.
Sam Hulick, who composed for the Mass Effect trilogy, plans to release a re-scored version of the leaked Mass Effect: Universe trailer for N7 Day on 7 November, PC Gamer reported. He posted the plan on Bluesky on 27 October, a day after Austin Wintory shared music he wrote while in talks to score the game.
World of Warcraft housing packs sell a Kul Tiran look
Blizzard has put two housing packs in the World of Warcraft shop: the Haunted Grimtide Estate at 2,500 Hearthsteel ($25) and the Grimtide Decor Pack, 21 decorations at 1,000 Hearthsteel ($10), IGN reports. Players say the Kul Tiran styling breaks the housing principles Blizzard published at Midnight’s launch, which ruled out shop cosmetics representing a race or class.
Quick hits
- PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for November are Dead Island 2, Tomb Raider IV to VI Remastered and Monster Train 2, playable from 3 to 30 November, per the PlayStation Blog.
- Witchbrook now releases on 28 January 2027, Chucklefish and Robotality announced, a year after it moved from 2025 to 2026 (PC Gamer).
- Phantom Blade Zero launches today. Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics estimates 850,000 prelaunch copies on Steam and PS5 and more than a million with China’s WeGame included, about $43 million (IGN).
- Crimson Desert: Charting the Unknown also releases today.
Buying anything today, or saving it all for 19 November? Tell us in the PlayTheory Discord.