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Rockstar Games, best known for developing the iconic Grand Theft Auto series, has fired over 30 employees across its UK and Canadian offices. According to the company’s statement, the action was taken over leaks of confidential information; union leaders claim otherwise.
The Rockstar spokesperson said the move was ‘in no way related to people’s right to join a union or engage in union activities.” The company reaffirmed its determination to protect sensitive project data after a significant breach in 2022 led to the publication of early Grand Theft Auto VI footage.
The IWGB, which represents workers in the video game industry, immediately denounced the move as one of the most blatant and ruthless acts of union busting in the history of the industry. According to the union, all dismissed employees were members of a private trade union Discord group where labor organizers periodically joined discussions.
The union president, Alex Marshall, accused Rockstar of punishing employees for union activity rather than for any real security breach. “Rockstar fears its workers discussing their rights,” he said, adding that “management doesn’t care about delays to GTA VI and is prioritizing union-busting over game development.”
Since the 2022 leak that dropped dozens of videos of unfinished GTA VI gameplay, Rockstar has clamped down hard on internal security. In early 2024, the studio ordered all staff back to the office full-time, citing security concerns, a decision the IWGB criticized as ‘reckless’ and ‘anti-worker.’
Also Read: GTA 6 Delayed Again! Rockstar Pushes Launch to November 19, 2026
The studio’s highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI has faced its second major delay and is now slated for release on November 19, 2026. The title is anticipated by the experts to be among the top-selling video games throughout history, even in the light of the persistent labor strife, which highlights the very high stakes that Rockstar has to play with as the studio gets criticized with regard to its work culture.
