Rockstar Games has released a new statement regarding the situation surrounding the fired workers in the UK and internationally, once again claiming the 30+ staffers were let go not because they were trying to form a union, but because they were breaching company policy.
Specifically, Rockstar Games told GameSpot that the action was taken against the workers because they were discussing "specific game features from upcoming and unannounced titles" and other "confidential information" in a public forum.
Rockstar said this was "in breach of company policy and their legal obligations."
The fired staffers and a union seeking to represent them said the Rockstar workers were fired for their efforts to establish a union. Rockstar pushed back, telling GameSpot, "Claims that these dismissals were linked to union membership or activities are entirely false and misleading."
This is what Rockstar has been saying since the firings happened in October. At the time the action came to light, Rockstar said the workers were let go "for gross misconduct, and for no other reason." In November, Rockstar the firings were in "no way related to people's right to join a union or engage in union activities."
A spokesperson for the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) said the affected staffers were involved in unionizing efforts and said Rockstar is guilty of "one of the most blatant and ruthless acts of union-busting in the history of the games industry."
IWGB told Game Developer that Rockstar developers in the UK have a "statutory right to engage in private conversation with union organizers that supersedes any employment contract."
IWGB president Alex Marshall said Rockstar's management are "showing they don't care about delays to GTA 6, and that they're prioritizing union-busting by targeting the very people who make the game."
The situation escalated all the way to the UK Prime Minister. Keir Starmer recently said it was a "deeply concerning case," making the point that every worker has the right to join a union. He added, "We're determined to strengthen workers rights and ensure they don't face unfair consequences for being part of a union."
A subsequent report suggested that Rockstar fired the devs over messages on Discord about the company's revised internal Slack policies. Over 200 Rockstar employees have demanded that the fired devs be reinstated, and there have been multiple protests at Rockstar offices in support of the workers. For now, the issue remains unresolved.
Rockstar's current big project is GTA 6, which is set for release in November 2026. The company recently launched a new version of Red Dead Redemption for modern consoles and mobile, and new-generation ports of Red Dead Redemption 2 are said to be in the works as well.
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Specifically, Rockstar Games told GameSpot that the action was taken against the workers because they were discussing "specific game features from upcoming and unannounced titles" and other "confidential information" in a public forum.
Rockstar said this was "in breach of company policy and their legal obligations."
The fired staffers and a union seeking to represent them said the Rockstar workers were fired for their efforts to establish a union. Rockstar pushed back, telling GameSpot, "Claims that these dismissals were linked to union membership or activities are entirely false and misleading."
This is what Rockstar has been saying since the firings happened in October. At the time the action came to light, Rockstar said the workers were let go "for gross misconduct, and for no other reason." In November, Rockstar the firings were in "no way related to people's right to join a union or engage in union activities."
A spokesperson for the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) said the affected staffers were involved in unionizing efforts and said Rockstar is guilty of "one of the most blatant and ruthless acts of union-busting in the history of the games industry."
IWGB told Game Developer that Rockstar developers in the UK have a "statutory right to engage in private conversation with union organizers that supersedes any employment contract."
IWGB president Alex Marshall said Rockstar's management are "showing they don't care about delays to GTA 6, and that they're prioritizing union-busting by targeting the very people who make the game."
The situation escalated all the way to the UK Prime Minister. Keir Starmer recently said it was a "deeply concerning case," making the point that every worker has the right to join a union. He added, "We're determined to strengthen workers rights and ensure they don't face unfair consequences for being part of a union."
A subsequent report suggested that Rockstar fired the devs over messages on Discord about the company's revised internal Slack policies. Over 200 Rockstar employees have demanded that the fired devs be reinstated, and there have been multiple protests at Rockstar offices in support of the workers. For now, the issue remains unresolved.
Rockstar's current big project is GTA 6, which is set for release in November 2026. The company recently launched a new version of Red Dead Redemption for modern consoles and mobile, and new-generation ports of Red Dead Redemption 2 are said to be in the works as well.
Source