Katarzyna Petru
The gaming industry has been abuzz. A few days ago, the news circulated that Rockstar Games fired over 30 developers of GTA 6, allegedly for union activities. Now the studio has spoken out – and claims that the truth is quite different.
Layoffs 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 dismantle union structures. Among those laid off were employees from the United Kingdom and Canada who belonged to a private group on Discord associated with the workers' organisation.
“Rockstar is afraid of employees who talk about fair working conditions. Management shows that it is more afraid of its people's strong voice than of the delays in GTA VI,” commented Alex Marshall, president of IWGB.
Rockstar Statement: "It Was a Breach of Security Protocols"
In a conversation with Jason Schreier from Bloomberg, a spokesperson for Rockstar Games denied that the layoffs were related to trade unions.
“Last week, we took action against a small group of individuals who disseminated and discussed confidential information on a public forum, which constituted a breach of company policy. This had nothing to do with union activity,” the studio representative stated.
According to Bloomberg, Rockstar deemed the actions of these individuals to be a "serious misconduct", related to the disclosure of confidential project data.
Background: after the GTA 6 leak, the studio tightened its rules
Rockstar has long been known for its exceptionally strict security policies. Following the high-profile leak in 2022, when materials from an early version of GTA 6 were shared 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 step "reckless" and detrimental to remote workers.
Schreier: "The matter is unclear - it may end up in court"
Jason Schreier noted that Rockstar's statement is remarkably vague and does not specify what "confidential information" the dismissed employees were supposed to have discussed.
According to his sources, it concerns rather conversations on the union's private Discord, rather than actual leaks from GTA 6. The journalist suggests that the case may go to court, and Rockstar's line of defence will be based on the allegation of "breaching corporate confidentiality".
GTA 6 in the Shadow of Controversy
Layoffs, accusations of "breaking up relationships," and concerns about the atmosphere in the studio are yet more tumultuous chapters in the history of the GTA 6 production. Nevertheless, Rockstar assures that work on the game is progressing according to plan – and the release of the title is still scheduled for 2025.
