GTA 6 has been surrounded by constant conversation for years, and while most discussions center on the game’s delays or its enormous expectations, a new controversy now threatens to overshadow everything else. Fresh allegations from recently dismissed Rockstar employees paint a troubling picture of internal monitoring, employee disputes and the company’s response to early union activity.
For a studio already under pressure from fans after multiple delays, this new drama may be the most damaging yet.
A Troubling New Allegation Emerges
A recent report from People Make Games, shared widely on Bluesky, includes detailed claims from fired Rockstar employees who believe the company monitored a private Discord server used for early union discussions. According to their statements, the studio allegedly accessed the server and identified workers who shared internal emails — an action that violated company policy but also, they argue, targeted conversations protected under UK law.
The developers say the dismissals were framed as “gross misconduct,” yet the nature of the conversations including discussions about pay, working conditions and bonus structures would normally fall under protected employee rights. That contrast is what has fueled public concern and renewed criticism of Rockstar’s labor practices.
Rockstar’s Silence Only Adds to the Distrust
Rockstar has not publicly addressed these new claims beyond its original statement defending the terminations. The lack of further clarification has only intensified scrutiny, especially given the company’s recent history of workplace criticism and the ongoing protests outside its Edinburgh office.
For many fans already frustrated by the game’s second major delay, the timing couldn’t be worse. Confidence in Rockstar remains high creatively, but its reputation as an employer continues to face serious challenges.
GTA 6’s Delay Set the Stage for Growing Tensions
The announcement that GTA 6 was being pushed from May to November 2026 sent shockwaves across the gaming community. With anticipation already at a fever pitch, the second delay reignited old debates about Rockstar’s production methods and raised questions about internal strain.
Against this backdrop, the firings appeared to many as a punitive response at a moment when employees were already feeling pressured by tight development expectations. When protests formed outside Rockstar’s offices, calling the terminations a union-busting tactic, the situation escalated into the company’s most public labor dispute in years.
Why the Shared Messages Matter
The dismissed employees say the material they shared included internal emails discussing policy updates and production-related decisions. While Rockstar policies prohibit circulating internal communication externally, the developers argue that the purpose behind sharing these emails — discussing workplace conditions and pay — falls under employee protection outlined in the UK’s Equality Act and other labor regulations.
The company’s critics fear that labeling the issue as “gross misconduct” may have been a way to sidestep the legal protections surrounding union recruitment conversations. Notably, the report suggests that Rockstar’s investigation began after a non-union employee alerted management to the server’s existence, sparking a rapid review and swift firings.
Longstanding Concerns About Working Conditions
These allegations didn’t emerge in isolation. Rockstar has faced similar criticism for more than a decade, dating back to development on earlier titles. Reports of excessive overtime, “crunch” culture and long hours have circulated periodically since the days of Red Dead Redemption and GTA 5.
Although Rockstar publicly committed to improving work-life balance after the backlash surrounding RDR2, employees have continued to raise concerns privately and anonymously over recent years. To some observers, the firings represent a clash between those internal expectations and a workforce increasingly aware of collective bargaining possibilities.
What This Means for Rockstar and for GTA 6
The studio has chosen not to expand on its initial explanation, maintaining that the dismissals were strictly tied to policy violations rather than anti-union intent. Yet the absence of a more detailed defense leaves important questions unresolved.
Whether or not the allegations are proven, the situation casts a shadow at a critical moment in GTA 6’s development. The game is already under microscopic attention. Every delay, every hint of trouble or internal dispute amplifies the pressure on Rockstar to deliver something extraordinary.
Fans remain hopeful even confident about the final product. But reputational damage is harder to fix than a missed deadline. And if workplace morale has suffered, the effects could ripple into future production schedules or talent retention.
A Studio Under Strain, A Game Under Expectation
Grand Theft Auto remains one of the most influential entertainment franchises on earth, and anticipation for its next chapter is unmatched. Yet this latest controversy underscores how the environment behind the scenes can shape public perception as strongly as any marketing campaign.
Whether these allegations signal deeper structural issues or reflect a conflict that escalated at the worst possible moment, one thing is clear: Rockstar is facing a level of scrutiny it has not encountered in years. And with GTA 6 carrying the weight of enormous expectation, the studio cannot afford to overlook the concerns now being raised by its former employees.