According to Windows Central, Rockstar Games fired between 30 and 40 employees last week across its UK and Canada studios after they were discussing unionization in Discord group chats. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain called this “one of the most blatant and ruthless acts of union busting in the history of the games industry.” Rockstar’s parent company Take-Two Interactive claims the firings were for “gross misconduct” only and supports Rockstar’s actions. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has now weighed in, expressing solidarity with the affected workers. This comes as Grand Theft Auto 6’s launch was recently delayed out of 2024 and is now scheduled for May 26, 2026.
Sponsored content — provided for informational and promotional purposes.
Rockstar’s problematic labor history
Here’s the thing – this isn’t exactly new behavior for Rockstar. The company has faced criticism for years over its notorious crunch culture, with reports of 100-hour work weeks during Red Dead Redemption 2’s development. Now they’re facing unionization efforts head-on with what appears to be a pretty aggressive response. The timing is interesting too – right as GTA 6 enters its final stretch before that 2026 release date. Basically, they’re trying to set a precedent before what will likely be the biggest game launch in history.
The gaming union movement gains momentum
Meanwhile, unionization is spreading like wildfire across the industry, particularly at Microsoft-owned studios. We’re seeing unions form at Blizzard across World of Warcraft, Overwatch 2, Diablo, and basically every major team. Activision QA, Bethesda, ZeniMax – they’re all organizing. And some have already worked out contracts. So Rockstar’s heavy-handed approach feels increasingly out of step with where the industry is heading. You have to wonder – do they really think they can hold back this tide?
The legal battle brewing
Now we’re looking at a potential legal showdown. The IWGB isn’t backing down, calling this “flagrant contempt for the law.” If these firings were genuinely about union discussions rather than “gross misconduct,” Rockstar could be facing serious legal consequences. But proving that in court? That’s the challenge. Companies have become pretty sophisticated about finding other reasons to let people go when union activity starts. Still, with SAG-AFTRA now involved, this is becoming a much bigger public relations problem than Rockstar probably anticipated.
What this means for gaming
This feels like a turning point. When you’ve got one of the world’s most profitable game companies allegedly firing dozens of workers for union talk while actors’ unions are getting involved, we’re watching labor relations in gaming evolve in real time. The question is whether Rockstar’s approach will become a cautionary tale or a playbook for other studios resisting unionization. Given how much money GTA 6 will likely make, they might feel they can afford the legal battles. But the court of public opinion? That’s already looking pretty grim for them.
