Rockstar reportedly fired dozens of developers who were trying to unionize.

According to Bloomberg, Rockstar Games, the developer of Grand Theft Auto VI, fired employees for alleged anti-union activity, as defined by the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) union. However, Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two Interactive, denies this claim, stating that the employees were fired for their behavior. On October 30, Bloomberg reported that 30–40 Rockstar employees were fired from several offices in the United Kingdom and Canada. All of them were members of a private union chat group on Discord. An IWGB representative said that some of the dismissed employees were union members, while others were trying to organize.

The IWGB wrote on Bluesky that this was the most ruthless anti-union action in the history of the British gaming industry because Rockstar Games laid off more than 30 employees for union activities. The IWGB is not backing down and is not afraid; they will fight for the reinstatement of all their members. Alex Marshall, president of the IWGB, added that Rockstar’s blatant disregard for the law and its billion-dollar employees is an insult to fans and the global gaming industry. In a statement to PC Gamer, Take-Two denied the allegations of anti-union activity and supported Rockstar’s decision to fire the employees.

“We strive to create the world’s best entertainment properties by providing our top-tier creative teams with positive work environments and ongoing career opportunities. Our culture is focused on teamwork, excellence, and kindness. Rockstar Games terminated a small number of individuals for gross misconduct and no other reason. As always, we fully support Rockstar’s ambitions and approach,” said Alan Lewis, Take-Two’s head of global corporate communications.

Take-Two declined to comment on the number of Rockstar employees who were laid off or the reasons behind their dismissals. Rockstar has had a reputation for its demanding work culture for years. Although the situation seemed to be improving recently, the studio is currently under enormous pressure to finish Grand Theft Auto VI in time for its release on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series in May.

Source: PCGamer, Bloomberg, Bsky