Rockstar fires 30–40 GTA 6 developers amid claims of union-busting and industry outrage
Rockstar Games, the powerhouse behind Grand Theft Auto 6, is facing a wave of backlash after being accused of union-busting following the dismissal of dozens of staff. Reports claim between 30 and 40 developers were terminated this week across multiple studios in the UK and Canada, sparking outrage among workers’ unions and fans alike.
According to a Bloomberg investigation, the developers — spanning several disciplines from design to QA — were all allegedly involved in private union discussions or affiliated with organising efforts. Many were members of a private Discord group set up to discuss unionisation within Rockstar, a studio known for its demanding work culture and billion-dollar franchises.
The company’s parent firm, Take-Two Interactive, insisted the dismissals were unrelated to any union activity. In a statement to Bloomberg, spokesperson Alan Lewis said the employees were fired for “gross misconduct, and for no other reason,” adding that Take-Two “fully supports Rockstar’s ambitions and approach.”
However, the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which has previously represented video game workers across several major studios, condemned the move as a direct attack on organised labour.
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“Rockstar has just carried out one of the most blatant and ruthless acts of union-busting in the history of the games industry,” said IWGB president Alex Marshall. “This flagrant contempt for the law and for the lives of the workers who bring in their billions is an insult — not just to employees, but to the fans who make their success possible.”
Rockstar has not issued a public comment on the allegations. The studio, whose forthcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 is one of the most anticipated releases in gaming history, has faced repeated scrutiny in recent years for its internal culture — including reports of long working hours and “crunch” periods leading up to major launches.
Developers within the company have described an increasingly tense atmosphere over the past few months, with growing discussions around fair pay, workload balance, and protection for contract workers. Several employees reportedly viewed unionisation as the only way to ensure job stability and safeguard against what they described as “arbitrary firings” and “toxic management practices.”
The timing of the terminations has raised eyebrows across the industry. With GTA 6 nearing its expected launch window, the sudden loss of key development staff has drawn comparisons to previous controversies in the tech and entertainment sectors where union efforts were met with internal crackdowns.
“This isn’t just about Rockstar — it’s about a wider industry problem,” said one anonymous developer who was not part of the firings. “Studios rely on our passion for making games, but the moment we start talking about fair treatment, they call it misconduct.”
Union advocates say the incident underscores the need for stronger labour protections in the gaming industry, particularly in countries where creative workers often fall through legal grey areas between full-time and contract employment.
The controversy comes as Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two Interactive, continues to make record profits. Analysts estimate that Grand Theft Auto 5 alone has generated more than $8 billion since its release in 2013. GTA 6 — widely expected to become the most expensive and profitable game ever made — is seen as central to Take-Two’s future earnings.
Meanwhile, Take-Two’s CEO Strauss Zelnick stirred debate earlier this week by suggesting artificial intelligence could never replicate Rockstar’s creative success. “No creativity can exist by definition in any AI model,” he said, defending the irreplaceable role of human developers — a comment that now rings hollow to many in the wake of the mass firings.
As criticism mounts, industry observers say Rockstar faces not just a reputational crisis but potential legal challenges if investigators find evidence of anti-union retaliation. For a studio built on rebellion and satire, its latest controversy may prove to be its most uncomfortable reflection yet.