The situation at Rockstar Games’ offices has taken a dramatic turn following the dismissal of 35 employees in Edinburgh, who were attempting to form a union to improve working conditions. The company justified this decision by alleging misconduct and leaks of information regarding the highly anticipated title GTA 6, although the IWGB union has pointed out that such accusations are based on conversations within a private Discord server designed for the organization.
Some Tremendously Questionable Layoffs
More than 200 employees of Rockstar North have signed a letter addressed to management, demanding the reinstatement of those who were dismissed. In the letter, they express support for their colleagues, highlighting a growing discontent and a general willingness to protest. New demonstrations are planned in London, Edinburgh, and Paris at the end of this month, aiming to raise awareness of the situation and push for a dialogue with management.
Rockstar has a negative history regarding working conditions, with reports of workweeks of up to 100 hours during the development of Red Dead Redemption 2. In light of these precedents, the creation of the Rockstar Games Workers’ Union emerges as a desperate response to confront the extreme stress and unfair labor practices that many have endured.
With the imminent arrival of GTA 6, scheduled for November 2026, employees see a critical opportunity to push for significant improvements in their working conditions. This week, the IWGB announced that it is filing a lawsuit for unfair dismissal and anti-union acts against Rockstar, citing the company’s refusal to engage in dialogue as a central point of its case.
“Rockstar wants us to feel intimidated. My brave colleagues are demanding that our voices be heard,” said a fired employee, who emphasized the lack of dialogue and union repression as evident problems within the company.
