More than 30 fired Rockstar Games employees have publicly launched the Rockstar IWGB Game Workers Union, escalating the ongoing labor dispute with the Grand Theft Auto VI developer. The union went public on May 28, 2026 with a video announcement and a confirmed court date against Rockstar.
"We didn't think this is how we'd be launching the public face of the Rockstar Games Union, but then we never could have predicted what happened over the last six months," the union's launch video explains.
The Firing and Legal Battle
In 2025, Rockstar terminated over 30 staff members in what the IWGB (Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain) has called an act of alleged union busting. Rockstar claimed the workers were fired for "gross misconduct" related to leaking features from upcoming games. The IWGB subsequently filed legal claims for unfair dismissal and trade union victimization — a case that continues to this day.
"Rockstar's sudden firings didn't crush our union. Instead we are now bigger and stronger than ever." — Rockstar IWGB Game Workers Union
A Union That Grew Stronger
According to the union, the firings had the opposite effect of what Rockstar may have intended. "Rockstar's sudden firings didn't crush our union. Instead we are now bigger and stronger than ever, with more and more workers joining from across every one of Rockstar's sites, in Edinburgh, London, Leeds, Lincoln and Dundee," the group stated.
The union says it is organizing around four key demands: pay transparency, flexible working arrangements, an end to crunch culture, and justice for the 31 fired workers.
Court Date and Support Fund
The union has confirmed that a final court hearing date has been set. "We are determined to win justice for the 31 fired workers, and to show studios like Rockstar that they cannot get away with this disgusting treatment of the people whose talent, skill, and creativity are what capture their audiences and generate their billions," the union declared.
A support fund has been established, with donations going toward mounting a legal defense and campaign costs "to ramp up the pressure on Rockstar."
Political and Industry Reaction
Three UK Members of Parliament have publicly called out Rockstar over the mass firings. The IWGB has argued that Rockstar's contractual clauses "do not supersede UK employment law." The case has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over workers' rights in the video game industry, particularly around crunch culture and unionization.
Impact on GTA 6
With GTA 6 currently slated for a November 19, 2026 release, the labor dispute adds a layer of uncertainty around the industry's most anticipated game. While development continues, the public unionization effort and legal proceedings could have implications for Rockstar's workforce morale and public perception during the critical launch window.