Category: Rockstar

Rockstar suffers legal setback as judge rules against studio in union-busting dispute

Blog, Campaigns, Rockstar
  • An employment tribunal has ruled against Rockstar Games in the latest stage of a legal dispute over alleged union-busting at the studio, after 31 union members were summarily dismissed in October last year
  • The latest tribunal decision upheld the right of the IWGB Union – the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain – to continue bringing blacklisting claims against the company at the final trial which will run from 10 September to 15 October this year
  • The ruling is the latest set back facing Rockstar Games as it prepares for the planned release date of Grand Theft Auto VI on 19 November, anticipated to be the biggest game launch of all time

Wednesday 17 June 2026: An employment tribunal has ruled against Rockstar Games in the latest stage of a legal dispute over alleged union-busting at the studio. The ruling allows the IWGB Union to continue bringing blacklisting claims against the company at the final trial set to take place over September and October this year.

Following the sudden dismissals of 31 of its members in October last year, the IWGB Union has been preparing to take Rockstar to court over allegations including blacklisting – the practice of compiling information about workers involved in union activity in order to discriminate against them.

At the latest preliminary hearing, Rockstar sought to strike blacklisting claims from the case being brought against it, but the ruling, published yesterday, rejects this attempt to narrow the scope of the case, and confirms that every one of the union’s allegations relating to union-busting can proceed to trial.

The dates for the final hearing have now been shared, with the trial set to begin on the 10th of September and run to the 15th of October this year. The court case will conclude just over a month before the planned release of Grand Theft Auto VI on the 19th of November, expected to be one of the biggest video game launches in history.

Ellie Dunstan, one of the workers fired by Rockstar in October last year, said: “This ruling is a huge moment for us. Rockstar thought they could control the narrative. They’re wrong, and we look forward to proving it. Our case will now be heard in full and put to the test as it should be. The world will get to see for itself the evidence as to what happened last October.

We loved our work at Rockstar. Losing our passion, our colleagues and our incomes in the blink of an eye was devastating, and the company management has treated us with disdain ever since, refusing to grant us appeals or respond to basic evidence requests. After months of fighting to have our voices heard, this is a moment to celebrate. The judgment shows that even against a company with Rockstar’s resources, workers can stand together and demand accountability

This fight has always been about more than just our own situation – it is about making sure workers across the games industry and beyond have the right to stand together, speak out, and organise for a fairer sector.”

Spring McParlin-Jones, Chair of the IWGB Game Workers Branch, said:

“This ruling is a major blow to Rockstar’s attempts to avoid scrutiny for its actions, and a major step forward in our fight for justice for our members. The tribunal has refused to let Rockstar off the hook, finding that serious factual questions remain about how these workers were identified, listed and dismissed – questions that must now be tested at a full hearing.

From the moment employees were escorted from their buildings without warning, and throughout every subsequent stage of the legal proceedings, Rockstar has attempted to avoid accountability – denying workers a fair hearing, failing to engage with basic evidence requests, and now attempting to limit scrutiny of the allegations brought against them. Gamers all over the world have seen through these tactics, and now a tribunal has also cast doubt on Rockstar’s version of events.

The decision strengthens our case at a critical time as we prepare for the final stage of this David versus Goliath legal battle, which could shape the future of union rights across the games industry and beyond. We’re asking gamers, workers and supporters the world over to make history with us by contributing towards our legal costs. In order to take on this multinational, multibillion pound corporation, we need as many people as possible – people who care about workers’ rights, people who care about the future of games – to unite behind us.”

Donate to the Rockstar workers’ fighting fund: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/support-rockstar-workers-fighting-unfair-dismissals

Over 200 Rockstar staff write to management in support of unfairly fired union members

Blog, Campaigns, Rockstar, Statement
  • 220 letters signed by staff members at Rockstar, the studio behind the Grand Theft Auto series, were delivered to management at the company last week, demanding that the 31 employees fired are immediately reinstated
  • The employees, all of whom were members of the IWGB Union, believe they were fired illegally for unionising, which the IWGB has described as “the most ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry”
  • Fired Rockstar employees, supporters, and current staff gathered outside the company’s offices on 108 Holyrood Road every day last week, culminating in protests there and outside Take Two Interactive’s London offices on Thursday 6 November
  • Further protests are planned to take place in London and Paris this Friday 14 November, and in Edinburgh on Tuesday 18 November

 

THURSDAY 13 NOVEMBER: Staff working at Rockstar North, the developers of the Grand Theft Auto game series, have delivered a letter to senior management signed by over 200 members of staff, condemning the firing of 31 employees last week that is believed to be an act of union busting. In the letter, staff demand the immediate reinstatement of their colleagues, all of whom in the UK were members of the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) Union.

 

Last week, supporters protested in London outside Take-Two House, Rockstar’s holding company, in solidarity with the fired employees. A protest was also held outside the company’s offices on Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, where the ex-employees and current staff joined to demand reinstatement, as the culmination of a week of gatherings outside the company’s offices.

Rockstar have claimed in a public statement that the 31 members of staff were fired for leaking information in public channels, something that the IWGB has refuted, saying that workers only communicated in private and legally-protected trade union channels. The IWGB has now issued formal legal claims against Rockstar, asserting that it will pursue all avenues to ensure that members are reinstated and granted interim relief.

Further protests are planned for this Friday 7 November, starting with an 8am rally outside Take Two’s London office, followed by a protest at 4pm (CET) outside the company’s Paris headquarters, where members of STJV (Le Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo) will show their support for the fired workers. There will be another protest on Tuesday 18 November at 6pm outside Holyrood to coincide with a cross-party parliamentary group meeting on Scotland’s games industry.

Peter*, one of the staff fired at Rockstar last week says: “It’s heartwarming to see so many of our colleagues supporting us and holding management to account – during a period where Rockstar want us to feel scared, my brave former colleagues are marching straight up to our boss’s door and demanding our voices are heard and not backing down. It’s clear to everyone close to this situation that this is a blatant, unapologetic act of vicious union busting. Rockstar employs so many talented game developers, all of whom are crucial to making the games we put out.”

Fred Carter, an IWGB organiser says: “By deciding to fire more than 30 union members, Rockstar have carried out an Amazon-style act of union-busting unprecedented in the games industry. This is a company that benefits from more than £440 million in UK tax relief, while displaying a callous and blatant disregard for both the livelihood of workers and the letter of the law.”

*Name has been changed to protect anonymity.

For more information, please contact:

Jake Thomas: jakethomas@iwgb.co.uk

Ellie Butcher: elliebutcher@iwgb.co.uk