Rockstar Games's former writing director and Red Dead Redemption series writer Mike Unsworth has reportedly left the developer after 16 years. Unsworth who joined the studio in 2007, worked as a creative lead working on some of the most commercially successful video game franchises including Grand Theft Auto IV & V and Max Payne. Unsworth was promoted to Vice President of Writing at Rockstar in 2021. His LinkedIn profile has recently been updated to indicate the developer has left Rockstar.
Unsworth involvement with the much-awaited GTA 6 or Red Dead Redemption's Remastered version is unclear. His departure is yet to be officially confirmed by Rockstar but the timing of Unsworth's exit is surprising since GTA 6 reveal is just around the corner and the game is rumoured to be one of the most expensive games of all time.
Read More: Take-Two Interactive Hints At 2025 Release Window For GTA 6
Unsworth The Third Big Name To Leave Rockstar Since 2020
Unsworth's LinkedIn shows that he was at Rockstar Games from 2007 until 2023 and his LinkedIn's 'about' section now reads ‘Mike is an accomplished writer who spent over 16 years working for Rockstar Games as a creative lead on some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful video game franchises of all time.’
Unsworth was also credited as a writer in Red Dead Redemption 2 alongside Dan Houser who left Rockstar Games in 2020 as the Co-Founder & Vice President and Rupert Humphries who still works for the company. Another big name to leave the company in the last few years is Lazlow Jones, best known for his radio shows in the Grand Theft Auto Series who left Rockstar Games in 2020 after almost 20 years with the company.
In related news, Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two Interactive has shared that it expects a 'record' turning point in its next fiscal year, renewing speculation that GTA 6 will be released before March 2025 (when the fiscal year ends) which could mean a potential launch in late 2024 based on past release patterns.