Rockstar Faces UK Union Claims of 20% Pay Withholding and Contracted Crunch Before GTA VI
Updated
Updated · Game Developer · Jul 1
Rockstar Faces UK Union Claims of 20% Pay Withholding and Contracted Crunch Before GTA VI
2 articles · Updated · Game Developer · Jul 1
Summary
Three UK-based Rockstar union members told Game Developer the studio uses opaque, discretionary bonuses that can amount to about a fifth of salary, leaving some workers below market pay and promotions subject to shifting criteria.
The employees also alleged gender pay gaps have widened, some corrective initiatives were scrapped, and night-shift staff lost extra benefits, deepening what they described as inequity inside the Grand Theft Auto VI maker.
On working conditions, they said Rockstar normalizes crunch by including Working Time Regulations opt-outs in UK contracts and by offering limited overtime incentives, while some teams remain stuck in near-constant extra hours.
The complaints come as GTA VI targets a November 2026 launch and as workers seek voluntary union recognition; Take-Two said it offers competitive compensation, has above-industry retention, and will meet the union.
As Grand Theft Auto VI’s release approaches, Rockstar Games faces a major UK employment tribunal in September-October 2026 over allegations of blacklisting and union-busting. The tribunal, prompted by mass firings in October 2025 where employees were escorted out without warning, will examine whether these actions were justified or aimed at suppressing union activity. Rockstar claims the dismissals were due to leaked confidential information, but the tribunal found serious questions remain about how workers were identified and dismissed. This high-stakes legal battle unfolds just as Rockstar’s workers form their first union, intensifying scrutiny on the company’s labor practices.