GTA VI developer accused of union busting in mass firings

Rockstar Games, the developer of Grand Theft Auto VI, fired betwixt 30 to 40 employees connected Thursday, arsenic antecedently reported by Bloomberg. According to the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB), each of the employees fired were portion of a backstage commercialized national Discord chat and were either already national members oregon attempting to signifier a national astatine Rockstar. 

“Rockstar has conscionable carried retired the astir blatant and ruthless enactment of national busting successful the past of the games industry,” IWGB president Alex Marshall said successful a connection provided to The Verge. 

Alan Lewis, caput of planetary firm communications astatine Rockstar genitor institution Take-Two Interactive, responded, telling The Verge the firings were “for gross misconduct, and for nary different reason,” without elaborating further. 

The firings were dispersed retired crossed Rockstar offices successful the UK and Canada. They travel conscionable 7 months up of the merchandise of Grand Theft Auto VI. The game’s motorboat was primitively scheduled for this fall, but a fewer months ago, Rockstar delayed its release until May 26th, 2026, saying, “We anticipation you recognize that we request this other clip to present astatine the level of prime you expect and deserve.”

 Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) president Alex Marshall:

“Rockstar has conscionable carried retired the astir blatant and ruthless enactment of national busting successful the past of the games industry. This flagrant contempt for the instrumentality and for the lives of the workers who bring successful their billions is an insult to their fans and the planetary industry. 

Despite this calculated onslaught connected workers organising for a corporate dependable and to amended their hard moving conditions, the Rockstar Union remains undeterred. They volition support organising for respect and amended conditions whilst continuing to determination their blood, sweat and creativity into games that are loved by millions.

The IWGB volition prosecute each ineligible assertion imaginable to guarantee our members are reinstated and person interim relief.”

Alan Lewis, caput of planetary firm communications astatine Take-Two Interactive:

“We strive to marque the world’s champion amusement properties by giving our best-in-class originative teams affirmative enactment environments and ongoing vocation opportunities. Our civilization is focused connected teamwork, excellence, and kindness. Rockstar Games terminated a tiny fig of individuals for gross misconduct, and for nary different reason. As always, we afloat enactment Rockstar’s ambitions and approach.”