With the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 just over six months away, a significant internal conflict has emerged at developer Rockstar Games. The studio recently terminated between 30 and 40 employees across its United Kingdom and Canadian offices. These layoffs have sparked controversy, as the affected staff were reportedly involved in unionization efforts.
The story, first reported by Bloomberg, revealed that all fired employees were part of a private Discord chat group dedicated to trade union discussions. A spokesperson for the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain confirmed that this group comprised both existing union members and others actively working to establish a union within Rockstar.
Alex Marshall, president of the IWGB, issued a strong statement condemning Rockstar’s actions. “Rockstar has just carried out one of the most blatant and ruthless acts of union busting in the history of the games industry,” Marshall declared. “This flagrant contempt for the law and for the lives of the workers who bring in their billions is an insult to their fans and the global industry.”
In response, a spokesperson from Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, expressed support for the studio’s decision, asserting that the employees were terminated “for gross misconduct, and for no other reason.”
This contentious situation is likely to escalate into a lengthy legal battle, with its resolution depending on how British and Canadian courts interpret the events.
Interestingly, Rockstar Games recently posted a job listing predicting that GTA 6 would achieve the biggest launch in video game history. This expectation seems well-founded, given that Grand Theft Auto 5 has already surpassed 215 million sales and GTA Online remains a substantial revenue generator for the company.
Furthermore, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has consistently voiced his opinion that he is not concerned about artificial intelligence competing with the Grand Theft Auto franchise, indicating a firm stance on technological advancements within the industry.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is slated for release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on May 26, 2026.