UK government paid staff to play GTA Online to study players' experiences

Since late 2024 a small unit in the Department for Education called Policy Lab has run a taxpayer-funded programme in which employees are paid to play GTA Online with random people on the internet. The project involved staff “[spending] time with participants in video games they played regularly” and “[experiencing] the world” with them by “observing their in-game interactions.” Researchers reportedly joined players in missions including stealing from a jewellery shop, using a bomb to blow up the CEO of a company, and driving prostitutes to their clients.

United Kingdom

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