Fired Rockstar Workers Demand Reinstatement and Seek to Return to Development on GTA VI

A new video investigation from the YouTube channel People Make Games has brought renewed attention to the 34 workers recently dismissed from Rockstar Games, including 31 employees from Rockstar North in Edinburgh and 3 from the Toronto studio. These employees were abruptly terminated earlier this month and have been protesting outside Rockstar North ever since. According to the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), the dismissals were an act of union busting, occurring just days after the workers secured enough internal support to formally unionize.

Rockstar Games responded by alleging that the employees had leaked confidential information on a public forum, but the workers interviewed in the video insist there is no evidence of such behavior. They claim they were removed quickly, without due process, and without any opportunity for proper representation.

People Make Games notes that they had been preparing a video about the formation of the new union after being contacted by employees who wished to go public. Before that content could be completed, the layoffs occurred. During the interviews, the dismissed workers described the emotional and professional damage caused by being terminated under the accusation of gross misconduct, especially as they had been actively working on Grand Theft Auto VI, now scheduled for release on November 19, 2026.

One worker, Bran, explained the impact on his reputation:

“If I have gross misconduct on my CV, on my resume for the rest of my life, that is a huge detriment to any future career prospects. Something important to notice as well is you feel shame to be kicked out of work this way. Like, all of us still want to be here. We want our jobs, we want to finish what we were working on. And now the internal shame feel of having this gross misconduct with you forever, it is hard to explain.”

In the same People Make Games interview, Fred, an organizer from the IWGB, detailed the union’s demands and next steps. According to Fred, the immediate objectives are clear: reinstatement for all affected UK and Canadian workers, full compensation for lost wages during the layoff period, and accountability from Rockstar for the way the terminations were handled. He emphasizes that the dismissals lacked proper procedure and evidence, calling the situation unprecedented in the past twenty years of UK union organizing within the game industry.

Fred explained:

“The immediate goal here is the reinstatement of all 31 workers in the UK and the 3 workers in Toronto. It is full compensation for pay lost during this period. It is clear accountability for the way these dismissals have been handled, these very clear, unfair dismissals without procedure, without evidence. We have just submitted our legal claim. The ball is in their court to respond. These are workers who just want to go back to work, to work on a game that they love.”

There is also speculation regarding the timing of the dismissals. The United Kingdom is preparing to pass the Employment Rights Bill, which will significantly strengthen protections for workers beginning next year. Some observers believe this may have incentivized companies to execute layoffs before the new legislation comes into force.

Meanwhile, Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick addressed concerns in an interview with IGN, stating that the culture at both Take Two and Rockstar is “extraordinary.” He did not offer comments on the specifics of the dismissals or the allegations raised by the IWGB.

With legal claims filed, public demonstrations underway, and significant pressure from labor organizations, Rockstar now faces a critical decision point. The affected employees express a consistent message: they want their jobs back and want to continue contributing to Grand Theft Auto VI, a project they remain deeply passionate about. As the union begins formal legal action, all eyes are on Rockstar’s response and its handling of this high profile labor dispute.

Should Rockstar reinstate the workers, or does the studio stand justified in its actions? What do you think about the growing movement for unionization in the game industry? Share your thoughts below.