Rockstar UK Workers Form Union Before GTA 6 Launch as 31 Firings Face Legal Challenge
Updated
Updated · Ghacks · May 29
Rockstar UK Workers Form Union Before GTA 6 Launch as 31 Firings Face Legal Challenge
10 articles · Updated · Ghacks · May 29
Six months before Grand Theft Auto 6 launches on November 19, Rockstar employees in the UK publicly formed the Rockstar Game Workers Union under the IWGB.
The push follows Rockstar's October 2025 dismissal of 31 employees, which workers say was retaliation for organizing; Rockstar said the layoffs stemmed from public sharing of details about upcoming and unannounced game features.
The union says it is growing across Rockstar studios in Edinburgh, London, Leeds, Lincoln and Dundee, with pay transparency, flexible working and an end to crunch as its main demands.
IWGB has ongoing legal action over the firings and is raising funds for the case, while the UK government has said it will investigate the dispute.
The organizing drive lands as Take-Two expects fiscal 2027 revenue to top $8 billion, up more than $1 billion and driven largely by GTA 6, making Rockstar's response to union recognition a key next test.
With a landmark lawsuit looming, will Rockstar's 'union busting' allegation tarnish its billion-dollar GTA 6 launch more than a delay?
Amidst union battles and 'crunch' culture debates, can Rockstar deliver a polished Grand Theft Auto 6 without exploiting its workforce?
As 'bossware' becomes standard, is the games industry's fight over surveillance a preview of the future for all creative professionals?
Rockstar Games Faces Union-Busting Allegations After Firing 31 Workers: Legal Battle Threatens GTA 6 Launch and Industry Precedent
Overview
In October 2025, Rockstar Games fired several employees, which immediately led to accusations of union busting from the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB). The union claimed the dismissals targeted staff involved in union activities, as all those fired were members of a private union chat group or considering IWGB membership. This formed the basis for the union’s claim of a calculated attack on organizing workers. Despite Rockstar Games insisting the firings were necessary, the IWGB remained committed to fighting for respect and better working conditions, escalating the dispute into a high-profile legal and industry issue.