Katarzyna Petru
There’s been a stir in the gaming industry. A few days ago, news circulated that Rockstar Games has fired over 30 creators of GTA 6, allegedly for union activities. Now the studio has spoken up – and claims that the truth is quite different.
Job losses just before the release of GTA 6
According to the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB), Rockstar's decision was an attempt to intimidate and disrupt union structures. Among those laid off were employees from the UK and Canada who belonged to a private group on Discord linked to the workers' organisation.
“Rockstar is afraid of employees who talk about fair working conditions. Management shows that they are more afraid of a strong voice from their people than the delays of GTA VI,” commented Alex Marshall, president of IWGB.
Rockstar's Statement: “It was a breach of safety rules”
In a conversation with Jason Schreier from Bloomberg, a spokesman for Rockstar Games denied that the layoffs were related to unions.
“Last week, we took action against a small group of individuals who were spreading and discussing confidential information on a public forum, which constituted a breach of company policy. It had nothing to do with union activity,” said the studio representative.
According to Bloomberg, Rockstar deemed the actions of these individuals as a “serious breach of conduct”, related to the disclosure of confidential data about projects.
Background: after the GTA 6 leak, the studio tightened its rules
Rockstar has long been known for its exceptionally strict security policies. Following the notorious leak in 2022, when materials from an early version of GTA 6 were released online, the company significantly tightened its internal policy. In 2024, the studio ordered all employees to return to the office full-time, citing the need to protect data. IWGB deemed this move "reckless" and detrimental to remote workers.
Schreier: “The matter is unclear – it could end up in court”
Jason Schreier noted that Rockstar’s statement is particularly vague and doesn’t specify what “confidential information” the laid-off employees were supposed to discuss.
According to his sources, it’s more about conversations on a private union Discord rather than actual leaks from GTA 6. The journalist suggests that the case could go to court, and Rockstar’s line of defence will be based on the allegation of “breach of corporate confidentiality”.
GTA 6 in the shadow of controversy
Layoffs, accusations of “breaking relationships” and concerns about the atmosphere in the studio are more tumultuous chapters in the history of GTA 6's production. Despite this, Rockstar assures that work on the game is proceeding as planned – and the title's release is still scheduled for 2025.
