Rockstar Games, the studio behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise, has come under scrutiny following the termination of 30 to 40 employees across its UK and Canada offices. According to a Bloomberg report, the terminations took place on October 30 and have been linked to the employees' involvement in a private union chat group on Discord. The Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) union alleges that the firings are part of a "brazen" attempt at union busting, a claim that Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, strongly denies.
Allegations of Union Busting
The IWGB, which represents some of the affected workers, has accused Rockstar of engaging in what they describe as "the most ruthless act of union busting in the history of the UK games industry." The union stated that while some of the employees who were fired were union members, others were reportedly trying to organize within the company.
In a statement posted on Bluesky, an IWGB representative said, "Yesterday, Rockstar Games unfairly fired over 30 employees for union activity. We won’t back down, and we’re not scared—we will fight for every member to be reinstated."
IWGB President Alex Marshall expressed his frustration with the situation, calling Rockstar’s actions a "flagrant contempt for the law and for the lives of the workers who bring in their billions." Marshall went on to criticize Rockstar’s approach, claiming that the firings were an insult to both fans and the broader gaming industry.
Take-Two Responds
Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, has denied the allegations of union-busting. In a statement to PC Gamer, Take-Two's head of global corporate communications, Alan Lewis, defended Rockstar’s actions, asserting that the firings were related to "gross misconduct" and had no connection to the employees’ union activities.
“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,” Lewis said. “Our culture is focused on teamwork, excellence, and kindness. Rockstar Games terminated a small number of individuals for gross misconduct, and for no other reason. As always, we fully support Rockstar's ambitions and approach.”
However, Take-Two did not provide further details on the number of employees who were terminated, nor did they specify the nature of the misconduct that led to the firings.
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