UK Tribunal Keeps Blacklisting Claim in Rockstar Case Over 34 Firings, Sets Sept. 10 Trial
Updated
Updated · GamesIndustry.biz · Jun 18
UK Tribunal Keeps Blacklisting Claim in Rockstar Case Over 34 Firings, Sets Sept. 10 Trial
3 articles · Updated · GamesIndustry.biz · Jun 18
Summary
A UK employment tribunal refused Rockstar Games’ bid to strip blacklisting allegations from a case brought by 34 fired workers, clearing the way for a full hearing from Sept. 10 to Oct. 15.
The tribunal said serious factual questions remain over how the workers were identified, listed and dismissed, preserving a claim that Rockstar allegedly used union status against staff.
The dispute began after Rockstar fired the UK and Canada employees for gross misconduct in October 2025; the IWGB Game Workers union called it union-busting, while Rockstar said the workers leaked confidential information.
People Make Games previously reported the material involved workers discussing studio Slack policies in a closed Discord server, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer later called the case deeply concerning in Parliament.
Workers and the IWGB said the ruling forces Rockstar to face fuller scrutiny, turning the case into a broader test of organizing rights in the games industry.
Did fired Rockstar employees leak game secrets or is the company hiding an illegal anti-union campaign?
Could a private Discord chat upend labor rights across the $197 billion video game industry?
UK Tribunal Allows Blacklisting Claims Against Rockstar Games: 34 Union Firings Set Stage for Landmark 2026 Hearing
Overview
A UK employment tribunal has denied Rockstar Games' request to remove blacklisting claims from an upcoming case, allowing these allegations to proceed to a full hearing. This follows Rockstar's firing of 34 staff members in the UK and Canada in October 2025, citing gross misconduct. Many of those dismissed were members of the IWGB Game Workers union, which accused Rockstar of union-busting tactics. The situation quickly gained national attention, with political figures calling for support for the affected workers. The tribunal's decision marks a significant step for labor rights in the UK games industry.