A major video game developer is facing accusations of illegally firing dozens of employees in the UK for attempting to organize a union. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) alleges that Rockstar Games, the studio behind the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI, terminated over 30 staff members last week in a targeted act of retaliation.
The union claims the affected workers were dismissed solely for their membership in a private, union-affiliated online channel. This action, the IWGB argues, constitutes unlawful anti-union discrimination, as organizing is a legally protected activity for workers in the United Kingdom.
In response to the allegations, Rockstar Games has stated the firings were due to employees sharing confidential company information in a “public forum,” insisting the move was unrelated to union activity. The IWGB has forcefully rejected this explanation, maintaining that all discussions occurred in legally protected private channels and that no sensitive information was leaked publicly.
The controversy erupted just as Rockstar announced a second delay for Grand Theft Auto VI, pushing its highly anticipated launch to late 2026. The development team in Edinburgh, where some of the fired employees were based, is central to the project. The timing has fueled union claims that management is prioritizing silencing worker organization over ensuring a stable production schedule.
In protest, the IWGB organized demonstrations outside Rockstar’s parent company offices in London and its Edinburgh studio. Picketers carried signs with slogans like “Grand Theft Employment,” directly criticizing the company’s labor practices.
“This is a blatant and vicious act of union busting,” said one of the fired workers in a statement provided by the union. “Rockstar employs so many talented developers who are crucial to making these games, yet they are targeting us for simply discussing our rights.”
IWGB officials argue the dismissals reflect a broader fear within the industry of workers collectively advocating for better conditions. For years, game developers have campaigned against widespread practices like “crunch”—periods of intense, often unpaid overtime used to meet release deadlines. Rockstar itself faced significant scrutiny in 2018 after a co-founder referenced 100-hour work weeks during the production of Red Dead Redemption 2.
The union is now calling for the immediate reinstatement of the fired employees and for Rockstar Games to be held accountable for what it describes as a clear violation of UK labor law.