Rockstar accused of anti-union practices after firing GTA 6 employees

Rockstar Games, the developer behind the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI , is embroiled in controversy over the sudden dismissal of 30 to 40 employees in the UK and Canada. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) condemned the move as a blatant act of anti-union crackdown , pointing out that the dismissed workers were involved in a private union chat group on Discord and were either union members or seeking to unionize the company.

According to the IWGB, these layoffs represent one of the most severe attacks on organized workers in the history of the video game industry , and constitute an affront not only to the employees, but also to the millions of fans who follow the franchise.

Rockstar responded to the allegations with a statement through a Take-Two spokesperson, asserting that the employees were fired for "serious misconduct" and denying any connection to union activities.

The statement highlights:

“We strive to create the world’s best entertainment franchises, providing our top-tier creative teams with positive work environments and ongoing professional development opportunities. Rockstar Games terminated the contracts of a small number of people for serious misconduct, and for no other reason. As always, we fully support Rockstar’s ambitions and approach.”

The discrepancy between the two versions has generated an intense discussion about labor rights , freedom of association, and transparency in employee management at large video game developers.

These layoffs come at a critical time for Rockstar, just months before the release of GTA 6 , scheduled for May of next year. Analysts project that the game could gross up to $3 billion in its first year and become one of the biggest launches in recent video game history.

Since 2022, Rockstar has implemented stricter security and internal control measures following the massive leak of the game in development and the early release of the first trailer. These measures include a requirement to be physically present in the office five days a week , a decision criticized by employees who cited broken promises and a lack of dialogue regarding working conditions.

These actions have been seen by workers and the IWGB as attempts to limit union organizing and more tightly control game production.

The IWGB has stated that it will take all possible legal action to ensure the reinstatement of its members and protect their labor rights. In its statement, the union emphasized that the decision to dismiss employees actively involved in unionization efforts represents a direct attack on workers' ability to negotiate better conditions and participate fairly in company management.

The union also stressed the importance of continuing internal organizing, assuring that the affected workers will continue to seek respect and better working conditions , while contributing their creativity and effort to the development of the franchise.

The controversy has sparked a global debate about ethics in the video game industry and the responsibility of major studios toward their employees. Rockstar, known for its high-impact franchises and enormous profits, now faces additional public scrutiny that could influence brand perception ahead of the release of GTA 6.

The case highlights a recurring conflict in the industry: the tension between the labor demands of creative teams and corporate strategies to protect intellectual property and maintain security in multi-million dollar projects.

Despite the controversy, Rockstar is maintaining a low-key marketing campaign for GTA 6 , building anticipation without revealing too many details. The company is looking to protect the game's content while preparing for a potentially record-breaking release.

However, the layoffs and the dispute with the union could affect public perception and employee trust, putting additional pressure on the company to balance its commercial success with labor responsibility and ethical management of its teams.

This incident with Rockstar reflects a larger problem in the global video game industry : the need to respect labor rights and encourage union organizing without compromising productivity or project safety. As the release of GTA 6 approaches, attention will be focused not only on the game's quality but also on how the company manages its relationship with its employees and protects the creativity and well-being of its teams.