The developer behind Grand Theft Auto 6 is facing legal action from a UK labor union following the sudden dismissal of more than 30 employees last week. The Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) has accused Rockstar Games of what it calls “clear union busting” after the studio terminated staff allegedly involved in labor organizing efforts.
Union Alleges Unlawful Terminations
In a statement released on Monday, the IWGB announced it had filed formal legal claims against Rockstar Games for what it described as “victimisation and collective dismissal linked to trade union activity.” The union said that attempts to negotiate directly with the company were rejected, leaving legal action as “the only remaining path.”
According to the IWGB, Rockstar’s decision to fire the employees on October 31 without prior warning amounted to retaliation against those involved in union discussions across the UK and Canada. “We are confident that what we’ve seen here is plain and simple union busting,” said IWGB president Alex Marshall. “Employers like Rockstar would do well to understand that private union spaces, such as Discord servers, are protected under UK law.”
Rockstar’s Response: ‘Gross Misconduct’
Rockstar Games and its parent company, Take-Two Interactive, have denied the accusations. In statements released following the firings, the company claimed the employees were dismissed for “gross misconduct,” later clarifying that they had “shared and discussed confidential information in a public forum.”
The IWGB disputed that characterization, asserting that no confidential material was distributed outside of union-related communications. “The only people our members were speaking to were labor organizers,” the union said, calling Rockstar’s justification “unacceptable and unlawful.”
A High-Profile Labor Battle in Gaming
This case could become one of the most significant labor disputes in the gaming industry in recent years. The IWGB, which has represented developers and QA testers at several studios, argues that the firings violate UK employment protections for organized workers. Legal experts suggest the proceedings could test how far game studios can go in monitoring employee communications during union drives.
“This case stands as a warning to any employer in the games industry who thinks they can act with impunity against organized workers,” Marshall added. “We will not be intimidated.”
What Happens Next
The lawsuit now moves into the formal review stage, where the UK’s labor tribunal will determine whether Rockstar’s actions breached employment and union laws. Neither Rockstar nor Take-Two has commented further since the filing. For a company already under scrutiny as GTA 6 nears release, the timing of the controversy adds another layer of pressure to one of gaming’s most-watched studios.