Ask Onix
Rockstar Games accused of union-busting after mass dismissals
The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has alleged that Rockstar Games, creator of the Grand Theft Auto series, fired 31 employees at its UK studios on October 30 to suppress unionization efforts. Protests erupted outside the company's offices in Edinburgh and London on Thursday, with the union calling the move "the most blatant and ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry."
Company denies union link, cites confidentiality breaches
Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, has not responded directly to the BBC but told Bloomberg that the dismissals stemmed from employees sharing confidential information publicly. "This was in no way related to people's right to join a union or engage in union activities," a Rockstar spokesperson stated, emphasizing a violation of company policy.
Confidentiality is strictly enforced at major studios like Rockstar, where employees routinely sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). The upcoming GTA 6, slated for a May 2026 release, has intensified secrecy measures, given its anticipated status as one of the best-selling games ever.
Union leaders reject confidentiality claims
IWGB president Alex Marshall dismissed Rockstar's explanation as a deflection, asserting that the firings targeted workers involved in union discussions. "They are afraid of hardworking staff privately discussing exercising their rights for a fairer workplace and a collective voice," he said. Marshall accused management of prioritizing "union busting" over game development, despite the high stakes of GTA 6's production timeline.
"Management are showing they don't care about delays to GTA 6, and that they're prioritising union busting by targeting the very people who make the game."
Alex Marshall, IWGB President
Legal gray area: NDAs vs. union protections
Dr. Paolo Ruffino, a senior lecturer at King's College London specializing in digital labor, described the case as "textbook" use of NDAs to stifle worker organizing. "They're used at every level in gaming, creating a culture of secrecy that makes investigating working conditions nearly impossible," he noted. The core dispute hinges on whether the dismissals violated UK employment law, which protects union activities but complicates proof when NDAs are invoked.
The IWGB has denied any public disclosure of confidential information by the fired employees, stating that the group included only Rockstar workers and union organizers. "We refute that confidential information was shared publicly," the union declared in a statement.
Worker testimonies highlight "power imbalance"
At the Edinburgh protest, dismissed employees described being fired "without warning" and "without reason." One worker, speaking anonymously, cited a systemic "power imbalance" in negotiations with management: "Not everyone is comfortable speaking up, and even when you do, you can get shut down because you're just one person."
"They've been fired, we believe, because they're union members-which is a protected activity in the UK."
Fred Carter, IWGB Organizer
Protesters demanded reinstatement for the dismissed staff and called for greater accountability from Rockstar, urging public support for their cause.
Industry context: A growing labor movement
The dispute reflects broader tensions in the gaming industry, where unionization efforts have gained momentum amid reports of crunch culture, layoffs, and job insecurity. Rockstar's high-profile status and the GTA franchise's profitability-GTA 5 has earned over $8 billion since 2013-have amplified scrutiny of its labor practices.
