Grand Theft Auto studio accused of 'union busting' after firing workers

Grand Theft Auto (GTA) maker Rockstar Games has been accused by a commerce union in Britain of firing workers to stop them from forming a union.

The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which represents individuals working within the gaming sector, mentioned that 31 workers from Rockstar's UK studios had been fired on October 30.

The union led rallies exterior the corporate's places of work in Edinburgh and London on Thursday, calling it “the most blatant and brutal act of union busting in the history of the games industry.”

The BBC has contacted Rockstar's father or mother firm, Take-Two Interactive, for remark, which has reportedly claimed that workers had been sacked for sharing confidential data.

“Last week, we took action against certain individuals who were found to be distributing and discussing confidential information on a public forum, which was a violation of our company policies,” a Rockstar spokesperson mentioned. Bloomberg mentioned in a press release,

“It was in no way related to the right of people to join a union or engage in union activities.”

At massive online game studios, details about recreation growth is strictly managed – workers usually signal agreements to not share confidential data.

Rockstar's upcoming GTA 6 is anticipated to be one of many best-selling video games of all time, with followers anticipating any information forward of the May 2026 launch date – that means the studio shall be stepping up safety for any data.

But union president Alex Marshall accused Rockstar of distracting from the “real reason” for firing employees – which the IWGB believes is their union involvement.

“They are afraid to discuss in private with hard-working employees exercising their rights to a fair workplace and a collective voice,” he mentioned.

“Management is showing they don't care about the delays on GTA VI, and are prioritizing union busting by targeting the people who make the game.”

According to the IWGB, the UK employees laid off in late October had been a part of a bunch discussing forming a union on the firm.

Mr. Marshall mentioned its solely non-rockstar workers had been union organizers.

Speaking to the BBC at a picket exterior the Rockstar North workplace in Edinburgh, organizer Fred Carter mentioned he stood with workers who had been sacked “without warning” and “without reason”.

“We believe they have been fired because they are union members – which is a protected activity in Britain,” he mentioned.

“We're asking people to come forward and support us, demand their jobs back, and demand accountability from Rockstar.”

After a clip of Grand Theft Auto 6 was leaked on-line following a hack in 2022, rockstar mentioned It value the corporate $5 million (£3.8 million) and hundreds of hours of workers time to get well.

But the IWGB's Mr Marshall mentioned the corporate's transfer to sack greater than 30 UK employees confirmed it “chose profits over both workers and fans of their sport”.