Tag: sindicato

Rockstar Games is going to trial for the dismissal of 30 employees who wanted to unionize

The first hearing of the case between Rockstar Games and more than 30 dismissed employees recently took place, generating expectations both in the legal field and among followers of the video game industry. The former workers, represented by the IWGB union, requested to maintain their salary while awaiting a full hearing on the matter. However, Judge Frances Eccles rejected this request, arguing that there was not enough likelihood of success in their argument regarding unionization. Unionization is viewed very negatively at Rockstar. The conflict began when the employees were dismissed, supposedly for trying to organize themselves to affiliate […]

The first hearing in the case between Rockstar Games and more than 30 dismissed employees recently took place, generating anticipation both in the legal field and among followers of the video game industry. The former workers, represented by the IWGB union, requested to maintain their salary while awaiting a full hearing on the matter. However, Judge Frances Eccles denied this request, arguing that there was not enough likelihood of success in their argument regarding unionization.

Unionism is very poorly viewed at Rockstar

The conflict began when employees were fired, allegedly for trying to organize to join a union through a Discord server. Rockstar defended its decision, claiming that workers had shared classified information in that space. The situation has sparked protests at the company’s offices not only in the United Kingdom but also in France and the United States, attracting the attention of public figures, such as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

During the hearing, the judge also acknowledged that some of the dismissed had little activity in the Discord group and that three of them were not part of the union. In addition, he highlighted that the group contained members who were no longer employees of Rockstar, as well as a video game journalist. Despite this, the judge could not conclude that the main reason for the dismissals was their membership in the IWGB.

Rockstar, after the initial ruling, reaffirmed its position and its intention to stand firm on the arguments presented. For its part, the union president expressed confidence that a more thorough trial will reveal that the company’s attempts to deter unionization are unfair and illegal. The legal dispute is expected to continue, with the union prepared to defend its case thoroughly.

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GTA could have had a movie with Eminem as the lead, but they declined

Grand Theft Auto (GTA) has not only conquered the video game industry but has also established itself as one of the most successful audiovisual franchises of the 21st century, with global recognition. Despite its success, Rockstar Games has chosen not to bring the saga to the big screen, which remains a subject of speculation and debate among fans. According to statements from Kirk Ewing, co-founder of Veemee, there was a proposal to make a GTA movie with Eminem in the cast, but it was rejected by Sam Houser, one of the founders of the studio. They did not find it appropriate […]

Grand Theft Auto (GTA) has not only conquered the video game industry but has also established itself as one of the most successful audiovisual franchises of the 21st century, with global recognition. Despite its success, Rockstar Games has chosen not to bring the saga to the big screen, which remains a subject of speculation and debate among fans. According to statements from Kirk Ewing, co-founder of Veemee, there was a proposal to make a GTA movie with Eminem in the cast, but it was rejected by Sam Houser, one of the founders of the studio.

They did not find it appropriate

As the industry’s eyes focus on Rockstar, the release of GTA VI has been officially announced for November 19, 2026, generating great anticipation with two trailers already presented. However, the studio is going through a significant internal crisis, characterized by the dismissal of more than 30 employees. The company argues that these layoffs were caused by inappropriate behavior, including the disclosure of confidential information. On the other hand, those dismissed claim that their expulsion was linked to their efforts to organize a union within the company.

The situation has triggered considerable unrest among Rockstar employees, as around 200 workers have signed a letter requesting the reinstatement of those affected, which has even led the Scottish Parliament to intervene in the matter. So far, Rockstar has not issued any recent statements regarding this organizational crisis or about GTA VI, which has generated uncertainty in its player community and in the industry as a whole.

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The workers of the largest video game studio in Spain are denouncing their deplorable working conditions

MercurySteam, one of the most well-known studios in the video game industry in Spain, is going through a significant labor crisis following the implementation of the Irregular Work Schedule (DIJ) in January 2025. This measure has allowed the company to establish workdays of up to 10 hours a day, which has generated discontent

MercurySteam, one of the most well-known studios in the Spanish video game industry, is going through a significant labor crisis following the implementation of the Irregular Work Schedule (DIJ) in January 2025. This measure has allowed the company to establish workdays of up to 10 hours, which has generated growing discontent among employees due to the lack of communication and the pressure to perform mandatory overtime.

MercurySteam is a terrible place to work

Workers have reported a toxic work environment, characterized by a lack of transparency, unjustified dismissals, and the imposition of precarious working conditions. The situation has led several employees to organize into a union, the CSVI, in order to fight for their rights and improve conditions within the studio.

Since the introduction of the DIJ, employees have reported long hours, little administrative support, and a climate of fear that affects their emotional well-being. The company has not officially communicated these changes, which has caused confusion and uncertainty among the staff. Many workers have been dismissed, often after expressing opposition to these new working conditions, raising concerns about the legitimacy of such dismissals.

The management’s response to the growing distrust has been to restrict internal communication, eliminating informal channels and announcing audits on employee communications. This policy has intensified the climate of fear and has left workers feeling like mere cogs in a machine, with no recognition or appreciation for their efforts.

As layoffs continue and labor practices become stricter, the future of MercurySteam looks uncertain. The lack of attention to the well-being of its employees could impact not only its organizational culture, but also its ability to attract and retain talent in an increasingly competitive sector.

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Video game workers' unions are marching to demand better conditions

On Wednesday, during the 2025 Game Developers Conference, union organizers and video game developers held a march and gathered in a nearby park for a rally in support of the newly announced United Videogame Workers union. With the slogan “We’re not playing anymore,” the crowd demanded a living wage and highlighted critical issues such as mass layoffs, the culture of overwork, and discrimination within the industry. Unions in the video game world are rebelling against the industry’s working conditions. The new union is affiliated with the Communication Workers of America, which […]

On Wednesday, during the 2025 Game Developers Conference, union organizers and video game developers held a march and gathered in a nearby park for a rally in support of the newly announced United Videogame Workers union. With the slogan “We are not playing anymore,” the crowd demanded a living wage and highlighted critical issues such as mass layoffs, the culture of overwork, and discrimination within the industry.

Video game industry unions rebel against working conditions

The new union is linked to the Communication Workers of America, which has been organizing developers at major companies like Activision Blizzard and ZeniMax. “What we are building with United Videogame Workers is a union focused on action and change in the industry,” commented Melanie Barron, senior campaign leader of CODE-CWA, in statements to PC Gamer during the event. Barron emphasized that many workers have been affected by devastating layoffs and that a voice is needed to address abuse and the lack of fair treatment in companies.

The participants of the rally expressed their discontent with the current business model of the industry, emphasizing that “we make these games, not the damn AI, and not the damn executives.” This strong message emphasizes that, in their opinion, human talent is fundamental in the creative process and cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence or by business decisions that prioritize profits over the well-being of workers.

The union plans to create powerful public campaigns that invite more workers to join the movement, seeking to transform the industry and respect the effort and skill required to create this form of art that is video games. The mobilization at GDC 2025 has become a turning point to highlight the struggle for developers’ rights in a sector facing significant labor challenges.

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Poland unionizes: the creators of Cyberpunk 2077 establish a union for all Polish developers

Tired of mass layoffs and questionable working conditions, CD Projekt Red has created a union to fight for their rights

Although Cyberpunk 2077 may have been fixed in the eyes of fans, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t continue to have numerous problems, primarily within the studio’s work culture. CD Projekt is a highly significant studio in Poland, but to reach where it is, especially during 2023, it has made decisions that haven’t been particularly favorable for its workers. Not to mention that crunch has been the norm throughout the development of Cyberpunk 2077. Therefore, a portion of its workers has had enough.

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That’s why a group of CD Projekt workers have formed a union called PGWU, which stands for Polish Gamedev Workers Union. The name reflects that they have members from other game companies in Poland, not exclusively from CD Projekt, with the goal of improving conditions for all workers in the Polish gaming industry. Hence, they have decided not to focus solely on their own company but on the entire country.

One of the main reasons for this decision is that, in 2023 alone, CD Projekt has gone through three different phases of layoffs. In May, about twenty employees from The Molasses Flood, approximately half of the studio’s staff in Vancouver, were laid off, along with over thirty employees from CD Projekt Red associated with Gwent, the card game based on The Witcher, following the decision to discontinue further support for the game. Additionally, a third round of layoffs occurred in July when a 9% reduction in the workforce of CD Projekt Red was announced, resulting in the dismissal of around a hundred employees.

Although there are many more issues within the studio, PGWU highlighted in an interview with CD-ACTION that they believe unionizing is necessary to achieve better working conditions. They also hope that their example will encourage others in creative industries to dispel the myth that unionism is only for factories and heavy industries. Considering they have already joined OZZ IP, a syndicalist organization, it is expected that they will have the negotiating power to prevent these massive layoffs from happening as easily in the future and inspire others to do the same.

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