A recent report from Bloomberg reveals that Rockstar Games, the studio behind the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, has terminated the employment of “dozens” of staff members. This action has sparked allegations of union busting from the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB), who describe the firings as a “brazen” maneuver aimed at suppressing union activity. In response, Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, has firmly denied these claims, asserting that the dismissals were due to misconduct.
Details of the Firings
The report indicates that between 30 and 40 employees across various offices in the UK and Canada were let go on October 30. Notably, these individuals were part of a private trade union chat group on Discord. According to a representative from IWGB, some of those affected were union members, while others were in the process of organizing.
Rockstar: not only making history in terms of profits, but in enacting the most brazen act of union busting the games industry has ever seen.— @iwgbunion.bsky.social (@iwgbunion.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2025-10-31T21:14:17.375Z
Rockstar Games has faced scrutiny in the past regarding its workplace culture, particularly the notorious “crunch” periods that have plagued the gaming industry. While there were signs of improvement in recent years, the studio is now under significant pressure to finalize Grand Theft Auto 6, which is slated for release on consoles in just seven months. The timeline for a PC version remains unconfirmed, adding to the urgency surrounding the project.
