Rockstar North hiring network programmers

Job listing reveals the Grand Theft Auto developer is looking for help in crafting networked--and potentially online--gameplay.

When it was revealed that Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories would have multiplayer, many hoped that it would also let people shoot it out online. While that didn't end up happening, there is now some evidence that future Grand Theft Autos may indeed have online play.

The clue comes in the form of a job listing posted by Rockstar North, creators of the Grand Theft Auto franchise. The minimal listing says that the Scotland-based shop is "looking to expand their experienced and talented teams" with the addition of...network programmers.

Network programmers specialize in code that allows for multiplayer gaming via a LAN, wireless connection, or online. The ad in question has been up for more than a month, meaning that positions remain open. That's a sign the company is hiring for more than a few slots--which could indicate a potentially large project is in the offing.

Since the network programmer job is at Rockstar's Edinburgh headquarters, not at the handheld-centric Rockstar Leeds, it means that the game in development is almost certainly for a console or PC. However, with Rockstar's history of debuting games on consoles--specifically the PlayStation 2--it is most likely the former.

While speculation is already beginning that that the network programmers will be working on the next-generation console version of Grand Theft Auto, it must be stressed that nothing is official other than the listing. When queried by GameSpot, Rockstar representatives did not return requests for comment.

71 Comments

  • Big_G12

    Posted May 30, 2006 7:06 pm PT

    Mmmmmmm.......GTA online co-op? MMO? Wishful thinking I guess

  • Spiderman_Ps3

    Posted Mar 29, 2006 11:55 am PT

    i will actually buy a gta online game sweet.

  • sluGGish_09

    Posted Mar 28, 2006 6:25 pm PT

    LCS mostlikely will have online... This dates back almost two years when R* said they would come out with a sort of "Expansion Pack" before the release of the Next gen console...
    I like detroithardcore's idea of two different gameplay... MMO on one disc, Socom/Co-op version on another

  • MSE369

    Posted Mar 27, 2006 9:53 pm PT

    im thinking..it'll be like a small test and will bee on GTA:LCS on PS2 thats coming this year that will also give them time if people find that the online isnt that good they could make it better before they're next gen debut...i might be also on the new PSP GTA coming later this year even though i doubt it...

  • Najikill

    Posted Mar 27, 2006 11:14 am PT

    Sounds neat, what i've been waitin for since i played my first GTA game!

  • creeploc

    Posted Mar 27, 2006 11:07 am PT

    GTA on xbox 360 I can't wait. Imagine the possibilitys...!!!

  • Konfusion

    Posted Mar 27, 2006 10:55 am PT

    Hot Coffee with other people, online? Sad times indeed...

  • Limonadi

    Posted Mar 27, 2006 8:05 am PT

    ;D

  • Lev_Arris

    Posted Mar 27, 2006 6:31 am PT

    I think this is a good ideal. I would like to see how it turns out.

  • detroithardcore

    Posted Mar 27, 2006 6:03 am PT

    ive been talking about this since gta 3 on ps2...they need an online city with 2 modes one will be mission based where you do missions and you can choose to have player interference on or off (because that would suck if everytime you tried to go somewhere somebody jacked your car) and the second mode would be a free roam where you could communicate with other players via headset if they were within reasonable talking distance on screen. how cool would that be to have gangs, and certain parts of the city that you ran and didnt let other people in without startin somethin? taking over hoods....the possibilities are endless

  • gaiden1024

    Posted Mar 27, 2006 4:33 am PT

    It's the right direction to go , I've personally stopped playing the GTA games , but all my friends who are still into it will love this

  • ewjim

    Posted Mar 27, 2006 3:49 am PT

    Multiplayer GTA?! That's funny, mwahahahaha!!! LOL!

  • blackjack4124

    Posted Mar 27, 2006 3:35 am PT

    Reading tea leaves again. Come on.

    Why would one hire network programmers - to program networks. For what? Who knows? Could be for an unrelated project for all we know. Or to fix up a buggy network of office computers. Or for an online GTA. We just. Don't. Know.

  • njsykora

    Posted Mar 26, 2006 3:25 pm PT

    So how long until a mainstream newspaper catches this? Asking for trouble I think.

  • spr4yp4int

    Posted Mar 26, 2006 4:10 am PT

    Online Features? Might make it worth to buy it...

  • Smoke_gta

    Posted Mar 25, 2006 7:18 pm PT

    Tor said:

    Network programmers specialize in code that allows for multiplayer gaming via a LAN
    -----

    A network programmer has to do with the network in the studio. Not with multiplayer gaming.

  • K1LLSWITCH

    Posted Mar 25, 2006 7:02 pm PT

    Ok smoke, Mr. NO IT ALL about gaming articles. He WAS talking about the studio. He was also giving some POSSIBLE info on what might happen with what the studio is doing. Go put on a diaper and cry over on Microsofts bench, friggin high school punks.

  • Smoke_gta

    Posted Mar 25, 2006 12:09 pm PT

    Actualy with misleading articles like this R* North decided to include Tor Thorsen and the CNET offices. You will then run around the building smashing his big retarted face against every wall.

    Do your research Tor! This is actualy to do with the Network of the studio, not the game. Makes you wonder why Rockstar Games didn't give any assests of Liberty City Stories to Gamespot. Hell websites that are a 1000 times less popular than it got awesome stuff.

  • Rampage117

    Posted Mar 25, 2006 11:09 am PT

    Nice

  • ShawDowFX

    Posted Mar 25, 2006 9:53 am PT

    "When queried by GameSpot, Rockstar representatives did not return requests for comment."

    Ever since the Hot Coffee incident. Gamespot, seriously, Rockstar's really hates your guts. So, don't even bother to act like you don't know why they aren't responding to you.

  • KiLLer_ba

    Posted Mar 25, 2006 1:05 am PT

    GTA online would Rock the Ps3.

  • mikekare79

    Posted Mar 25, 2006 12:17 am PT

    Sweet

  • Furbyballistik

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 10:31 pm PT

    all i can say is wow!!! i hated gta multiplayer for psp cuz i didnt have any friends that wanted to play me!! even thou when we did play it was truly superior fun!!!! but jus imagining a gta wit online play i wont have to worry about people wit psp's near by!!!! and if it was for ps3 which im sure it will be if it will be on a future psp game, omg !!! is all i can say!! lol

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 9:52 pm PT

    This could be very interesting.

  • Chedda925

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 9:14 pm PT

    GTA will be even better if they put it online, with the interaction of others it my even be a MMO.

  • bunty_007

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 9:07 pm PT

    GTA is going online!...now we can rule the city online!...now we can steal the car online!... now we can date the girl friends online!... now we can play "Hot-coffee" online?

  • Gmex

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 6:19 pm PT

    hmm interesting

  • infinitemurder

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 6:14 pm PT

    nice gta online, cant wait

  • jonnytran

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 5:24 pm PT

    utahnos
    Didn't rockstar already say that GTA will become exclusive to the PS3 because of Blu-Ray remember people GTA: SA already takes a whole Dual-Layered DVD to get the whole game in there of course they are going to need more space for the Next Gen GTA they are doing.

    GTA:SA never took up a whole dual layer disc...IIRC it almost takes up 1 full single layer disc as I don't remember buying a dual layer disc to burn it.

    I'm not sure if it's going to be a ps3 exclusive, most likely it will, but I'm prettty sure it's coming out for the ps3 first if it goes multiplatform.

    Also I'm not sure who made the comment before about the xbox version of SA was better, which it is in terms of graphics and loading speeds, but they also said something along the lines that if the next gta was put on ps3, the 360 version would be better. What makes you think that?...Most sources of information claim the ps3 will be better in overall power, so it's highly unlikely that a 360 version would be better. I assume there will be no difference between the ps3 and 360 versions, unless R* wasn't originally planning to make it multiplatform and was optimizing it for the ps3.

  • Franchise2k6

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 4:48 pm PT

    im just wondering how many players it will be? maybe 50on XBL? sweeeet

  • Kushstrain

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 4:36 pm PT

    man this is going to be koo

  • DryvBy

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 4:29 pm PT

    they're trying to compete with Saint's Row.. cool.

  • MGSIII-SS

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 4:17 pm PT

    The X360 killer is right here. With this game, the PS3 will reign for some nice years.

  • rbarahona

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 4:03 pm PT

    GTA Online could be a great hit for Rockstar and most of all for all the fans. This game should be greatly enhanced by an on line mode. I might give it a try if they release an on line version of the game.

  • tr00pa_26

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 3:50 pm PT

    GTA online would be crazy....>>> twink twink

  • XlpranksterlX

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 3:13 pm PT

    Interesting.

  • dye4paintball

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 2:55 pm PT

    it would be sweet if they had like 100 people in one town walking individually in one city/town.

  • andytimtim

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 2:50 pm PT

    I doubt it will be a MMO, tbh. It will probably end up like Saints row's multiplayer. 16 players online fighting each other in team deathmatches etc. Still pretty damn cool though.

  • AbuSharkas8

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 2:32 pm PT

    gta with a multiplayer... thats nice

  • trogdorchief01

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 2:25 pm PT

    interesting

  • GyRo567

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 2:24 pm PT

    Didn't we know about a potential GTA MMO for like a year now? o_O

  • _solidsnake_2

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 2:10 pm PT

    WOOHOO GTA Online!!

  • vicsrealms

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 2:07 pm PT

    Isn't Liberty City stories supposed to come out on the PC sooner or later. With luck they may add that to the PC version The PSP would be nice if they ever adding any more interesting games to its list. Right now GTA: LCS is the only one i am interest in and with it coming to PC in the future, my interest kind of goes away. As for multiplay on a few GTA, that would be really cool if I didn't cuk at that game.

  • gibb1

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 1:56 pm PT

    Awesome. the next gta has to improve in many things...& the online is one of them.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 1:56 pm PT

    of course they're going to offer online. the posp version already has it..... and what other kind of "newer" thing can they do?

  • grnidbandit

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 1:17 pm PT

    oh and mamad we all know when sonys online service will be available, its november cheerleader, and its going to be free so have fun spending your allowance on LIVE

  • grnidbandit

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 1:15 pm PT

    no i take back that microsoft fanboy comment,more like microsoft cheerleader

  • grnidbandit

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 1:13 pm PT

    mamad_raiss no one on here said this was going to be a ps3 exclusive it might be ported over to the 360 and PC later on,just like other GTA games have been in the past unless rockstar says so otherwise and please dont call anyone fanboy judging by your icon and profile your definitely a microsoft fanboy

  • pinneyapple

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 1:04 pm PT

    A GTA MMO would be cool, just think of the possibilities.

  • 4esth

    Posted Mar 24, 2006 12:56 pm PT

    I could see an MMO of GTA working....instead of gaining levels you gain reputation and there is contstantly a battle for your "hood".

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