34 Developers Dismissed, Union Fights Back
In one of the most significant labor disputes in gaming industry history, Rockstar Games has confirmed at a preliminary employment tribunal that it fired 34 developers—31 in the UK and 3 in Canada—for allegedly leaking confidential information about GTA VI in a Discord server.
The hearing, held on January 5, 2026 at the Glasgow Tribunals Centre in Scotland, saw the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) represent the affected workers and request interim relief—a legal mechanism that would reinstate them to Rockstar's payroll and restore their work visas while awaiting a full trial.
"We hope this week's tribunal will grant urgently needed relief to the workers whose lives were turned upside down by Rockstar's brutal union-busting," the IWGB stated. "Leaving them and their families without incomes, without secure futures, and in some cases without even the right to remain in the country they have made their home."
Rockstar's Defense: Zero Tolerance for Leaks
Rockstar Games categorically denied the union-busting allegations, insisting the dismissals were purely about confidentiality breaches. According to the company's spokesperson:
"We have consistently made clear that we took necessary action against a group of individuals across the UK and Canada who discussed highly confidential information, including relating to game features from upcoming and unannounced titles, in an insecure and public social channel."
What Was Allegedly Leaked?
Rockstar claims the leaked information included:
- Specific game features from GTA VI and unannounced titles
- Comments on GTA VI development progress
- Timelines to launch
The company believes that if this information had been publicly disclosed, it would have been major gaming news and could have affected Take-Two's share price—a particularly sensitive point given that when Rockstar announced GTA VI's delay to November 2026, Take-Two's market value plummeted $3.75 billion in a single day.
The Discord Server Controversy
At the heart of the dispute is the nature of the Discord server where the discussions took place. Rockstar claims:
- The channel contained at least 25 non-Rockstar employees
- Members included employees of competitor game developers
- A video games industry journalist was present
- Dozens of anonymous, unidentifiable members had access
"This channel was not private or for employees only," Rockstar emphasized. The company also alleged that channel moderators "didn't know who was in the channel" and that it posed a significant leak risk.
The IWGB rejected these claims as "littered with falsehoods and disinformation," maintaining that workers "only communicated in private and legally-protected trade union channels."
The Union-Busting Allegations
The timing of the dismissals is central to the union's case. According to the IWGB:
- The union Discord server had reached 200+ Rockstar North members just one week before the firings
- This surpassed the 10% legal threshold required to seek formal recognition
- The union was preparing to initiate collective bargaining
"This is about the arrogance of a company like Rockstar thinking that its size and profitability grant it an unlimited licence to abuse its workers, and to do so with impunity."
Rockstar countered that at the time of the dismissals, the company did not know whether the claimants were union members. They also pointed out that "employees who posted union-supportive messages, but who did not breach confidentiality policies, were not dismissed."
Political Fallout
The case has escalated beyond the courtroom, drawing attention from the highest levels of UK government.
Prime Minister Weighs In
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the case "deeply concerning" during a session of Prime Minister's Questions:
"Every worker has the right to join a trade union and we're determined to strengthen workers rights and ensure they don't face unfair consequences for being part of a union. Our ministers will look into the particular case."
The NDA Incident
Chris Murray, Labour MP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, revealed a troubling encounter when attempting to discuss the matter with Rockstar:
"The meeting began with us as MPs refused entry unless an NDA was signed, a request they eventually withdrew after being made clear this would not be signed."
Murray continued: "The meeting only entrenched my concerns about the process Rockstar used to dismiss so many of their staff members. I was not assured their process paid robust attention to UK employment law."
A Pattern of Zero Tolerance
Rockstar has emphasized that these dismissals are consistent with their long-standing approach to leaks. The company highlighted three separate incidents:
| When | Where | Alleged Offense |
|------|-------|-----------------|
| April 2025 | Lincoln, UK | Disclosed GTA VI info to third party who published to social media |
| November 2023 | United States | Information leaking (details unspecified) |
| November 2025 | India | Information leaking (details unspecified) |
The April 2025 incident is particularly notable—it likely refers to the leak of Jason and Lucia's full names (Jason Duvall and Lucia Caminos) that appeared on social media weeks before Rockstar officially confirmed them in Trailer 2.
220+ Employees Demand Answers
The firings sparked unprecedented internal resistance. On November 13-14, 2025, over 220 Rockstar North staff members signed an open letter to management:
"We demand the immediate reinstatement of our fired colleagues, condemning what we call 'a blatant, unapologetic act of vicious union busting.'"
This represents a significant portion of Rockstar North's workforce speaking out publicly—an extremely rare occurrence in the notoriously secretive studio.
What Happens Next?
If Interim Relief Is Granted
The affected workers would be:
- Reinstated to Rockstar's payroll
- Have their work visas restored (where applicable)
- Remain employed while awaiting the full tribunal
If Interim Relief Is Denied
The IWGB has made clear this would not end their fight:
"No matter the outcome of this interim hearing, we remain confident in the strength of the case we have brought against Rockstar Games. We reiterate our firm belief that Rockstar broke the law when it summarily dismissed 31 of our members."
The union has indicated it will continue "fighting in the courts and on the streets until we see justice."
The Bigger Picture
This case arrives at a critical moment for both Rockstar and the gaming industry:
- GTA VI remains scheduled for November 19, 2026—the most anticipated game release in history
- Take-Two's entire financial future is tied to this launch
- The gaming industry is experiencing a growing unionization movement
- Questions about worker rights and corporate power in tech are increasingly prominent
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, when questioned about the matter, defended the company's culture, saying Take-Two was "incredibly proud of our labor relations."
Whether this case becomes a landmark moment for labor rights in gaming—or a cautionary tale about corporate control—depends largely on what unfolds in the months ahead.
The tribunal hearing continues. GTA Central will provide updates as new information emerges.