Rockstar Games, the developer behind Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 5 and the highly anticipated GTA 6, allegedly fired around 30-40 employees on October 30th. According to the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB), the alleged firings were an attempt to prevent the employees from unionizing. Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, has since denied the union-busting accusations.

In a report by Bloomberg, a spokesperson for the IWGB discusses the organization’s accusations against Rockstar. The spokesperson claims that Rockstar fired roughly 30-40 British and Canadian employees, further alleging that all impacted employees were members of a private Discord chat for the trade union. The spokesperson also claims that every impacted employee was either an official union member or attempting to unionize prior to their termination. 

Rockstar: not only making history in terms of profits, but in enacting the most brazen act of union busting the games industry has ever seen. https://t.co/D5F40jMywZ

— IWGB (@IWGBunion) October 31, 2025

The IWGB has released other official statements regarding the situation. On the official IGWB X account, the firings were referred to as the most “ruthless” and “brazen” example of union busting in the gaming industry. In a post on the official IWGB website, the union says it will “be mounting a full and robust defense of its members who it believes have been targeted unfairly for exercising their legal rights.”  

Spring Mcparlin-Jones, the Chair of the Game Workers Division of the IWGB, also discussed the overwhelming fan anticipation for GTA 6 and the game’s projected sales of $10 billion after its release in 2026. Mcparlin-Jones stated that amount of money is “enough to end world hunger for a year” and that “such a flagrant attack on workers’ rights from such a valuable studio sends a very clear and shocking message to the world, that money matters more than people.”

Take-Two has since responded to the union busting allegations in a report by PCGamer. Alan Lewis, the head of Take-Two’s global corporate communications, claimed that Rockstar terminated the employees due to “gross misconduct, and for no other reason.”

He then goes on to say that “we strive to make the world’s best entertainment properties by giving our best-in-class creative teams positive work environments and ongoing career opportunities” and that “our culture is focused on teamwork, excellence, and kindness.” Lewis concludes the statement with explicit support for Rockstar’s “ambitions and approach.” Lewis did not confirm how many employees were fired or the exact reasons behind their termination.

Whether or not Rockstar will adhere to the IWGB’s goal of reinstating the impacted employees remains unclear.