Justice at last feels within reach:' Fired Rockstar workers rally in Glasgow

Chris Kerr,Senior Editor, News,GameDeveloper.com

September 10, 2026

3 Min ReadImage via IWGB

Former Rockstar employees who claim they were fired in November 2025 for engaging in trade union activity held a rally outside Glasgow Tribunal Centre this morning to protest what the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) previously described as one of the "most blatant and ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry."

GTA VI developer Rockstar jettisoned over 30 employees last year for allegedly leaking confidential information. The Take-Two Interactive subsidiary, however, has been accused by the ousted cohort of retaliating against them for taking steps to form a union. 34 workers were fired in total, including 31 members of the IWGB union and three people based in Canada who had also been involved in union activity.

The legal battle between the two parties will be decided over the next five weeks at an employment tribunal that has commenced today (September 10) and could run until October 16, 2026.

Fired Rockstar staffers and their supporters gathered outside tribunal centre in Glasgow, UK—where the hearing is being held—to present a united front as the legal battle reaches its climax.

"For almost a year, the truth about what happened to us has been buried by Rockstar and surrounded by speculation. Now we finally get the chance to put it on the record. None of us imagined that talking to each other about our working conditions would turn our lives upside down and catapult us into the centre of a global media storm," said Jason Lewis, former Rockstar employee and IWGB Union member.

"We have fought tooth and nail to get to this point, not just to be able to win justice for ourselves, but to draw a line in the sand for any employer that thinks it can attack workers for unionising. It has been an emotional journey and it is not over yet, but we can now see the finish line, and justice at last feels within reach."

As noted above, the hearing will conclude just weeks before the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19, 2026. The fired employees, who worked on the long-awaited sequel, are seeking reinstatement or compensation as well as a finding that their dismissals were unfair.

The IWGB claims the firings were "unlawful both in the reasoning behind them and in the process used to carry them out." The union alleges that workers were specifically targeted because of their union involvement and upon their termination were denied basic procedural protections.

Rockstar has argued those impacted were dismissed over messages posted in a private Discord channel used to discuss union activity. It claims those messages breached its confidentially agreements.

IWGB union president Alex Marshall said the result of the legal skirmish between Rockstar and its former employees will ripple throughout the video game industry and beyond.

"This fight is about more than one studio, one workplace or one sector. At a time when we are seeing ground ceded to the right all around us, it is more important than ever that we rally to defend this most fundamental of our rights - the right to organize—against those who would erode it." added Marshall.

"That is why this hearing matters for every worker across the UK, whether their job is in entertainment, education or anywhere else. It is a moment to send a clear message to each of them: you have the right to join a union, that right is protected by law, and employers cannot punish you for exercising it."
In a statement issued to Game Developer, a spokesperson for Rockstar Games stressed its former employees were fired for gross misconduct.

“Rockstar Games' position has been clear and consistent throughout. Individuals across the UK and Canada were dismissed for gross misconduct following the sharing of confidential company information, not because of alleged trade union membership or activity. We reject the claims and will defend them vigorously before the tribunal," they said.

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About the Author

Chris Kerr

Senior Editor, News, GameDeveloper.com

Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton.

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